Divine Performing Arts Successfully Kicks off in Seoul

SEOUL—The New York based Divine Performing Arts (DPA) brought blessings to Korean audience and debuted in Seoul on Feb. 4, the day Spring commences, according to Chinese Lunar calendar.

Marking its third visit to Korea, DPA made two stops this year, one in Daegu and one in Seoul. And again this year, the Chinese embassy in Seoul has attempted to stop the DPA from performing there.

According to the presenter of the show, the Chinese embassy has threatened the theater, Universal Arts Center, saying that it will not issue any visas to theater staff if it does not break its contract with DPA. The theater’s large business investments in China may also be affected.

However, the DPA successfully returned to Seoul after Seoul Local Court ruled on Feb. 3 that the presenting company won.

Ms. Vina Lee, manager of DPA international company said that the DPA is welcome in every area in the world, and that any interference is a foolish act. She also said that it is a pity that the regime tried it again.
 

Expert in Traditional Korean Culture Says DPA Director Has Extraordinary Ability

Mr. Han, an expert in preservation of Korean traditional and royal culture, said, “I admire the DPA for being able to put all the artists together. I also admire the director’s extraordinary ability. For instance, it took Disney one and half hour to portray the story of the legendary Chinese heroine, Mulan, in animation whereas the DPA only took five minutes to completely demonstrate the story with dance. It has totally reflected the script, the ideas, and the director’s extraordinary ability, and this is something that we should learn from.”

 

Ms. Ro, a scriptwriter for Korea Broadcasting SBS’s TV show “Starking” was delighted after seeing the DPA show. She said that the stage backdrop was totally different from what she had seen before, and she felt that the DPA had made special efforts to display China’s unique mystery and beauty.
“You can enjoy the rich and versatile Chinese culture in a very short time through the show. It is very interesting. In particular, the stage presentation is very dreamlike.“

The lyrics of the male and female vocalists also made Ms. Ro see the Chinese philosophy of “harmony between heaven and man.” She added: “It was like I was reading a philosophy book, being in touch with the principles of heaven, earth, and the universe.”

Dr. Byung-il Choi, Dean of Graduate School of International Studies, Ewha Woman's University, which is the world's largest female educational institute, came to see the DPA with his wife and sister-in-law. He was touched by the show, and said the show was spectacular and brought back his childhood memories.

He said, “Every performance is exceptionally good. I just remember that every performance is very beautiful. In particular, the last scene was so touching. They traced from the origin of the universe to this life of ours and made the connection between the two. Everything is in a cycle.”

Mr. Choi said, “The DPA tells us what is most important in life, and tells us ‘Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.’ This kind of value is especially important in difficult times.”

Hope to See the DPA Perform in China

One thing unique about the DPA show in Korea is that it has drawn a lot of Chinese to the show. Ms. Pu came from Jilin Province and has been in Korea for more than a year. She was very excited after seeing the show. She commented, “I did not expect to see this kind of show in Korea. I did not want to come initially when my friend told me about it. I realized how good it was after watching the show. The dancers’ costumes are like divine beauties, and the stage backdrop is just like real and alive.”

Ms. Pu’s biggest wish is that the DPA could one day perform in China. “If the show performs in China, a lot, a lot of people will come to see the show. Chinese people should not forget our own traditional culture.”

Ms. Lin is on a business trip to Korea and has extended her visit in Korea for two more days after learning that the DPA had earned rave review in oversea countries.

She also hoped that the DPA could perform in China. “This is something I won’t be able to see in China. I feel very lucky to have this opportunity, and I also feel very proud because I did not expect that foreigners can appreciate our traditional Chinese culture like this. I hope one day we see performances like this in China.”

 

  Please see DivinePerformingArts.org for more information.