Star of Popular Asian Drama: ‘My soul is emerging like the spring water’

SEOUL, South Korea— Among the audience of the Divine Performing Arts (DPA) show at the Universal Arts Center in Seoul on the evening of February 7 was another star of arguably the most-popular Asian TV series Jewel in the Palace, Ms. Woon-Gye Yeo.

Yeo’s role in the 70-episode drama TV series was the dignified Lady Jeong. In an exclusive interview with The Epoch Times, she talked about her impressions of the show.

“It is so moving; enough so to make me speechless. This transcends ordinary dance performances. The show leads people to explore the principles of life. It lets people know about reincarnation, and other things. It is so inspiring. I don’t know how to fully express my heart’s excitement,” said Yeo.

Yeo studied Korean literature at the University of Korea. She has been in the acting business for more than 30 years. In Jewel of the Palace, she is the oldest actress. Now at the age of 69, she still has not lost her energy to act.

Jewel in the Palace is based on a real story of the first female doctor in Korea, Jang-Geum Seo (Young-Ae Lee), during the reigns of King Seongjong, King Yeonsan-gun and King Jungjong in the 1400’s and 1500’s. Yeo’s role as Lady Jeong possesses exceptional organizing skills. In the royal court back then, it was quite hard to find anyone as righteous as she.
‘They are like poems, like paintings’

Eun-Soo Park, another actor from Jewel in the Palace, had just seen DPA the day before.

Yeo exclaimed, “It is hard to describe with words the effect the DPA show has had on me. The effect is like spring water coming out of the ground, not knowing where it came from. I think maybe my soul is emerging like the spring water.”

She continued, “The tunes and movements are all very elegant. The colors are beautiful. The plots in the stories are extremely rich—from the bottom of my heart, I am touched. The backdrops are gorgeous. They are like poems, like paintings; they make me feel very relaxed.”

Yeo specifically noted the last segment of the program, Knowing the True Picture Offers Ultimate Hope. The various gigantic wheels spinning in the backdrops brought on many thoughts in her. She said, “My understanding of the wheels is that everything is joined as one. Eastern and Western, life and death, all of these came together as one body. I think that’s what it means. It really moved me.”

This piece depicts the cosmic and the earthly merging in a powerful image of renewal, a theme first explored in the opening dance of the show. It carries the message that a glorious culture of antiquity was brought by higher lives and meant to sustain the moral integrity of humankind.

“This performance, I think regardless of who sees it, be they Asians or Westerners, everybody will like it. Westerners would be even more moved after seeing this production.”

Another segment, which stood out the most to her was Heaven Awaits Us Despite Persecution.

This piece tells the tale of a father who is persecuted for practicing Falun Gong. The fantastic scenes that ultimately unfold in this piece present a message of hope and bespeak of a longstanding Chinese belief that good people are ultimately rewarded, even if not in this lifetime.

“When I saw the father persecuted to death and elevated to heaven, it made my heart feel both hurt and soar.”

“This performance, you not only see it with your eyes, it remains in your mind, in the deepest part of your consciousness. Choreographers and professional dancers truly should come and see this show. Not only should they learn about our culture, they need to learn from others’ culture.”

After hearing about how the show is touring 80 cities around the world in 2009, being viewed by audiences of many different ethnicities, Yeo commented, “Lately everything seems to be accelerating. It’s like a whirlpool. People rarely have time to think about anything. Yet this show inspires people to think deeply … the scenes are serene; there are many relaxed backgrounds. Those things can help to calm the heart.

“Whether you are young or old, the performance can ignite some thinking. I truly hope people from all around the world can see this show. Especially Koreans living overseas, it’ll be so nice if they are able to view this meaningful production.”

- The Epochtimes, Feb. 08, 2009

DPA Leads People ‘toward a realm that everyone dreams of’, says Korea Buddha Portraitist

SEOUL, South Korea— The success of the final performance of the Divine Performing Arts (DPA) International Company at the Universal Arts Center, Seoul, on Feb. 8 put a beautiful period to its touring chapter in South Korea.

A Buddha portraitist from Byeog Wol Mountain Hut named Ryong Sin, stood in front of a large DPA display after watching the show. He told the reporter with great enthusiasm that “The DPA is leading people toward a realm that everyone dreams of, which is a world without pain … People living in capitalist societies are left only with money in mind, but the DPA informs them about the value of morality.”

Its Colors and Music Lift People From the Miserable World

As a professional Buddhist portraitist who illustrates Buddhas, deities, and celestial beings in his paintings, Mr. Sin paid special attention to the unique colors used in the DPA performance. “The brilliant colors DPA uses delivers a vivid image and atmosphere, beneficial to the health of people. These colors are used by most high ranking rich families. DPA has presented traditional Chinese thoughts well with the colors and it is amazing. I’m very fortunate to be at the show, it’s very meaningful.

He also said: “The colors of mysterious paradises are white, gold, emerald and pink. These are the colors of the heavens. These are the colors that give human beings courage and power.

“The music is also different. It is music from a higher realm. The costumes of those dancers and the colors of their costumes are mysterious and harmonious. Human beings walk into a world without pain very naturally by leaving their pain behind to step into a divine kingdom. Humans and celestial beings interact with each other. Identical to the idea that a Falun Gong practitioner transforms into a Buddha after death due to persecution, it is all for leaving this painful mundane world. I think this is the connotation of the DPA performance.”

People Can Only Stand in Awe

Mr. Sin is enthralled by the entire performance.

“DPA is well-designed with the backdrop similar to a painting. Only this painting is incredibly beautiful, as well as the costumes.

“Korean culture originated from China. Our clothing has also been influenced by traditional Chinese clothing during Go Gu Ryeo time period. Without the understanding of Chinese culture, Korean culture would not be able to take root. The DPA performance is not only an art performance, it has thoughtful connotations.

“Li Bai’s poems, Chinese culture and connotations are basically of Buddhism and Daoism. The DPA has finely portrayed these ideals. Moreover, there is the birth of the divine pen. How marvelous! The DPA passes on Chinese culture through explaining the basics of human beings and nature. What a great message it delivers!”

He is most impressed with the dynamic backdrops.

“It will suddenly appear! The moving space, flying movements, Li Bai’s background with poems appearing … Oh! Who has designed all this?”

“The choreographers have conveyed Chinese traditional legends very well in their dances. The themed dance of the divine pen will take the world by storm. Guimin Guan’s lyrics are beyond this world, the pianist is excellent, Mulan’s story is great, and especially the last program Knowing the True Picture Offers Ultimate Hope is outstanding, the arrangement is outstanding. People can only stand in awe.

“The choice of theme is brilliant! The core of what human beings long for–heaven. DPA has chosen this theme. Now, health or any spiritual worlds have roots in Chinese culture. That’s why DPA could succeed; this performance can fulfill people’s desires.”

The Poster Delivers a Message as Well

He was drawn to the DPA poster as well: “The answer to DPA’s popularity is already portrayed in the poster. The color and design both have drawing charisma. The name of the group Divine Performing Arts also tells a message for modern people.”

“The logo of DPA is very precise and successful: illuminating in the center with a silhouette of the form of a female dancer in the midst of the air, very mysterious and compelling. This poster creates great ambience. This is the renaissance of traditional Chinese culture. This poster has such a great design with an appealing gold color. Divine Performing Arts probably means an impression of the divine.

“People in modern society no longer know about their goals in life. A person is born, lives without knowing about oneself and then runs around making a living and wasting time. When such a person watches this performance, he will understand the message from Divine Performing Arts and will know how to live.”

- The Epochtimes

Fashion Professor: DPA Show ‘Manifests heaven to the secular world’

SEOUL, South Korea—Among the full-house audience of Divine Performing Arts (DPA) 2009 World Tour at Universal Arts Center in Seoul on February 8 was Ji-Won Yun, a fashion professor at the Seoul National University.

The opening scene The Five Millenia Begin left the deepest impression on Ms. Yun, particularly the moment when the 5,000 years of Chinese history was launched by the Yellow Emperor, who descended from heaven.

“I told my kid that today I saw a show that manifests Heaven to the secular world,” she said. “Last year when I watched DPA, I said to myself, ‘Ah, there’s such show existing.’ This time when I watched it, my heart was very calm. Last year there were more programs from the Tang Dynasty and this year they went back in time to the Han Dynasty. In this show I found traditonal culture. When I saw ethnic dances of Yi, Tibetans, and dances of various ethnicities, I felt that it was the Chinese culture. They even integrated poetry into the performance and harmonized Confucianist, Buddhist, and Taoist cultures together as one. It manifested a comprehensive culture.

“Since the Han Dynasty, dancers were not merely practicing techniques, they were cultivating. From eating, living to walking postures, everything was cultivation. I could see that also from the performance today. Nothing was simply practice, everything was cultivation.”

Ms. Yun was also moved by another program, Heaven Awaits Us Despite Persecution, based on a true story where a father is persecuted to death for his belief in Falun Gong in mainland China.

“A cultivator’s determination in his belief eventually trascends all darkness and welcomes brightness. A life was elevated. I was touched to tears.

“I want to teach my kid to know how to cultivate the heart; have hope in your heart; do not hold prejudice towards others; accept and open your hearts to others; you cannot attack other people, but have tolerance.”

Ms. Yun currently has a contract with Korea’s MBC television station to design costumes for an upcoming 50-episode drama, Queen Seondeok of Silla.

“Although MBC provided me with some suggested designs, many of them are very identical … Many aspects of [DPA costumes] can be inspiration for my designs, including styles, textures of materials and overall shapes, etc.

“Even though I always design and make costumes, I have never worn one myself. I made many samples for the drama, but I let the new designers try them on. I wish I could try them on actually, particularly the ones that are beautiful, with wide sleeves and easy to move around with.

“Costumes with sleeves that are wide and broad are the style of heavenly beings. Anyways, wide sleeves look very elegant; they leave a floating impression. [Those kind of costumes] belong to the fairies who I often have imagined as a child.”

Ms. Yun felt that the reason DPA is so renowned around the world is because it resonants between people of all backgrounds.

“Chinese culture lasted for a very long time; it’s the center of civilizations. Western ballet emphasizes on limited techniques, yet classical Chinese dance has various movements. Taoism says that people can cultivate to gods and also can come back to life. It lets people cultivate their characters—quietly improving in their secular lives—and solve their lives’ fundamental issues.

“I think traditional culture is not boring and old-fashioned like people say nowadays, DPA’s performance is fascinating. It tells stories through dance and combines history with modern days. It blends Western culture with the East, so people can all understand.”

She said that through the performance, people can rediscover many values that are vanishing today.

“[After you watch the show] you no longer emphasise selfishly on yourself, but to harmonize with the ethnicity, with the society. You should treat neighbors and friends with kindness rather than with stubbornness. You can maybe try to stand in others’ shoes.”

- The Epochtimes

Divine Performing Arts ‘Flawless and Impeccable’, says Well-known Korean Music Critic

SEOUL, South Korea— For Koreans who like to listen to the radio, relaxing music, or jazz, almost all of them know about Jin-Mo Kim. On Feb. 7, the well-known Korean music critic watched the fifth Divine Performing Arts (DPA) performance in Seoul.

In addition to being a music critic, Mr. Kim is a well-known music composer. He used to be a program host on KBS radio, host of Kim Jin-Mo music channels on Busan FM radio and the deputy chief of the Ke-Xi monthly magazine. Mr. Kim has introduced more than 500 pieces of classical music to Korean audiences.

He said the show is as beautiful as a dream: “DPA shows are very beautiful. It has myths, paintings, and also has dreams. It is as beautiful as a dream, but also very real to watch their performance on stage. These are all based on the ancient oriental culture. The performances give people hope for their future. I have been immersed in the bliss from the beginning to the end.”

Mr. Kim said he himself also often participated in stage performances. From a professional’s point of view, all aspects of the DPA show, including the stage layout, music, stories, etc., all left him astonished. He insists that he benefited a lot from watching DPA.

“The timing of the performers’ actions and the changing backdrop is perfectly simultaneous. It surprised me that the computer technologies were used so perfectly,” he said.

“I am also learning Oriental instruments myself. The cultural foundation between the Eastern and Western music is different. Many people want to combine Eastern and Western music, but they rarely succeed. However, what I saw from today’s performance is that the overall music is very harmonious, I have learned a lot indeed.”

He said that the performance was very harmonious and profound. “It is not to say that a performance has to reach a certain level visually in order to be accepted, what I want to say is that the show will be loved by all men, women, or children, no matter who watch it.”

“I’ve watched many performances and dances, which were based on stories. In those circumstances, audiences need to read the script in advance or the stories are some well-known works. So when the audiences watch the shows, they have to already be familiar with the plot and know how to appreciate it. It’s not difficult. However, for today’s program, audiences can perfectly understand the message from the program without needing a prior understanding of the story. I am very surprised.”

He once again said, “Every work is so flawless and impeccable.”

“I think their message is that current humanity is on its last leg. We have lost a lot of our true selves, and I think that humanity needs to recover what it has lost.”

Mr. Kim has experienced ups and downs in life and now likes to live in the distant mountains. He often travels to various places to witness people’s struggles. He has been to India eight times, and has also been to Japan, South-East Asia, Africa and other places.

“I hope that more people will watch the performance, so more audiences will be able to appreciate the beauty of this performances.”

- The Epochtimes, Feb. 09, 2009

Chinese Spectacular Show ‘Pure beauty is beyond words’ : Taiwan Art Director

By Lin Qiaorong, Epoch Times Staff, Mar 11, 2008-

TAIPEI— New York-based Divine Performing Arts is now following up in Taiwan, being well underway with its 22-show tour. The performance venues include the cities of Tainan, Kaohsiung, Taichung, Taipei and Chiayi.

After watching the Chinese Spectacular several times, art director in a dancing company, Yang Siya, stated that Divine Performing Arts is changing the world. Originally she bought 52 tickets. Ultimately she ended up buying 80.

With over 20 years experience in dance instruction, Yang went to Radio City Music Hall in New York City at the time of the Chinese New Year to watch Divine Performing Arts’ Splendor. She said, “Art needs to move the spirit. When people’s hearts are moved, they can understand a whole lot more. Divine Performing Arts has proved this by virtue of the fact that its worldwide tour has drawn in audiences from various nationalities, cultural backgrounds and professions.”

The large background scenery really inspired Yang. “The use of simple bright and dark lights combined with high-tech backdrops, not only let people see clearly what was happening on the stage, but also changed the scenes so rapidly that they appeared so vivid and lifelike, thereby drawing in the audience’s attention and making them feel part of the show. For example, as “Lady of the Moon” was presented, suddenly the performer was shown to be flying into the heavens, the perfect harmony of this scene shocked the audiences.”

Someone asked what it takes to understand Divine Performing Arts’ performances,  Yang replied with a smile, “It doesn’t matter if you don’t understand Chinese or have an artistic background.” She said, “Whenever ‘Nymphs of the Sea’ was shown, I could hear a murmur of wonder and delight run through the audience, followed by continuous applause then. The fairies waved the fans so gracefully that you could feel as if the sea tides were coming towards you. The pure beauty of the artistry is beyond words. Anybody can understand it.”

Yang particularly mentioned how she noticed the clear presentation of the distinction between males and females which is part of the Chinese traditional culture. The dances clearly presented the sharp contrast between Yin and Yang.

“From the perspective of dance style, Chinese classical dance can be classified as civil or martial. Male dancers appear gentle, courteous and cultivated in civil dances, and virile and masculine in martial. A man should be like a man. Females are born to be elegant and pretty. Even though in martial dances they display animated courage, they should not lose the quality of feminine softness. These characteristics are neglected in modern popular performances. However, you can clearly distinguish these characteristics in the shows by Divine Performing Arts. They truly display authentic Chinese culture to the world.”

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of the Chinese Spectacular. For our complete coverage please visit: http://en.epochtimes.com/features/dpa2008