‘I think it’s really beautiful’

PROVIDENCE, R.I.—Divine Performing Arts (DPA) 2009 World Tour showcase of China's millennia-old culture is creating a bridge between East and West, audience members say.

Dr. Symonds was at the Providence Performing Arts Theater on March 5, with a friend to see the New York-based company's perform its highly acclaimed repertory of classical Chinese dance and music.

The show was recommended to the two friends by a person from the university where she lectures.

Notably, DPA inspires story-based dances of ancient legends of heroism and modern stories of courage along with ethnic folk tales. These are supported by a full orchestra performing a unique combination of Western and Chinese original musical scores.

Masterful choreography ranges from grand imperial processions, thunderous drumming, gorgeously costumed dancers moving in stunning synchronized patterns.

"I think the thing that impressed us … are the costumes and the dance. The way they practice very hard, and just the fact they tell stories while they’re dancing [is impressive].

"I think it’s really beautiful. I think it’s wonderful that it’s mostly ethnic Chinese. Many of them born here in the West have learned how to present their own culture to others. I think that’s really important. It makes us all appreciate each other more. It gives us a really good output, a very good look at what is Chinese culture and how beautiful it can be. That’s what makes me very happy to see—and how the Oriental people are doing such a beautiful job."

'Indian culture is the same, but different.'

Born in India, Dr. Shukla traveled from New Jersey to Rhode Island, especially to see the presentation. The Ph.D. of engineering, also an entrepreneur and business owner, was taken by the two dramatic scenes featuring Falun Dafa, an ancient spiritual practice banned in China today, in Dignity and Compassion, and Heaven Awaits Despite Persecution.

These dances depict scenes in which Falun Dafa practitioners are being tortured—a harsh reality in China now.

"I think it gave us a nice window into what is going on, what sort of problems they [practitioners] are facing [in China]."

Dr. Shukla said he learned a lot about ancient Chinese values that have at its foundation China's divinely inspired culture.

This was the first Chinese show he had ever seen and had noticed similarities with his own Indian beliefs. "Indian culture is different. Some things are similar, but [some] are different. In a sense … naturally, everybody has [their] own beauty."

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen You Divine Performing Arts 2009 World Tour. For more information, please see DivinePerformingArts.org