And finally… He’s a man that’s seen literally thousands of shows on countless stages. But Broadway critic Richard Connema still called the Chinese New Year spectacular a quote, “mind-blowing” experience.
Richard Connema, critic for Talkin’ Broadway and seasoned theater patron has the highest praise for Divine Performing Arts’ Chinese New Year Spectacular in San Francisco.
[Richard Connema, Broadway Critic]:
“I probably have reviewed over 3 to 4 thousand shows since 1942. A lot of reviewers use stars, you know, 1 star, 2 stars, 3 stars, 4 stars, 5 stars… I will give this production 5 stars. That’s the top,” he said.
[Richard Connema, Broadway Critic]:
“The dancers were absolutely fantastic … I found out that there was not only dancing in this but heart. You could feel that coming even from where I was sitting … Just a beautiful production. I found that those backdrop scenes and the way it was projected and the way it comes out is absolutely fantastic.
[Richard Connema, Broadway Critic]:
“I’ve never seen anything like that. I’ve seen enough Broadway shows that still cannot compare to what I saw tonight The best word to use was “mind blowing”. And I watched around the audience and they all were so involved with everything going on.
[Richard Connema, Broadway Critic]:
“There’s movement between everything, even the narrators coming up, giving you a little insight and they move right into a dance… perfect!”
INDIANAPOLIS—Divine Performing Arts (DPA) delighted the audience at the Murat Theatre in Indianapolis on Saturday, Jan. 31, with its unique presentation of Chinese traditional culture.
Ms. Hanson, executive vice president of a major Midwestern university, was highly impressed with DPA’s visual feast of classical Chinese dance and Chinese ethnic and folk dance performed to original music.
“It was marvelous,” she said. “It was sublime artistry. Spectacular—just marvelous in every respect.”
Ms. Hanson said she had seen the show before but not in its entirety. “The historical sweep, the beauty of every section of it—it was just inspiring.”
The New York-based DPA is composed of a unique group of leading artists who share in a vision of reviving Chinese traditional culture which was all but destroyed after the advent of communism to China.
“One of the things that struck me was the kind of melding of the arts into the performance and the window into culture, as well as the really superb artistry of every one of the performers, singers, and dancers, each one individually. Together it was breathtaking,” Ms. Hanson said.
When asked what she thought about the message the show imparted, she said, “It was wonderful. The sort of emphasis on compassion is something we can all learn a lesson from.”
Ms. Hanson added that she thought the show “was a marvelous window into all sorts of elements of Chinese arts and culture. My home discipline is philosophy, so I loved hearing about Confucius too—the same message of Socrates, about knowing what you don’t know.”
Commenting on other aspects of the show, Ms. Hanson said that the projected backdrops “were quite intriguing. I don’t know enough technologically to know how that’s produced, but it was an interesting way of conveying various elements of the narrative.”
DPA makes use of an innovative digital backdrop that provides an animated setting to frame each dance. In some of the pieces, the scenes on the backdrop interact with the dances on stage.
The show also features accomplished solo singers and musicians as well as a live orchestra that combines Chinese and Western music and instruments
“The music was wonderful too in each of the episodes of the singing and dancing. There was humor in the introduction of the orchestra. I think we all learned something and had a great experience,” Ms. Hanson said.
She described the piece, Mulan Joins the Battle as “terrific.” A legend in Chinese history, Mulan joined the army disguised as a man in her ailing father’s place.
Ms. Hanson concluded by saying that the show “taught all of us a lot about the history of Chinese culture …. Bringing things from the various provinces was a wonderful element of the show too. It was terrific.”
NEW YORK— For the second year running, artist Mrs. Denigris came to see the Divine Performing Arts (DPA) at New York’s famous Radio City Music Hall. This year, on the auspicious eve of Chinese lunar New Year, Jan. 25.
“I was here last year. I loved it last year and this year when I saw it advertised up in the Greenwich Time, I saw, ‘Oh, I’ve got to bring my friends.’ So I’ve got several Korean friends that I brought with me and my son and my husband, so there are seven of us. Lucky seven,” said Mrs. Denigris.
As a painter of traditional Chinese landscapes and wildlife herself, Mrs. Denigris said what she loved best about the show was the scenery.
“I loved the scenery. Besides the dancing and the music, the scenery is absolutely gorgeous and being a student of the Chinese art I appreciate the scenery more than the average person because I do that type of work. I’m inspired.”
DPA use a state-of-the art, stage-sized digital backdrop to display ever-changing images of traditional China.
“I love it. It’s inspiring. It just makes me want to go home and start painting,” reflected Mrs. Denigris.
SAN FRANCISCO— The Divine Performing Arts (DPA) Chinese New Year Spectacular performed at the War Memorial Opera House on Thursday Dec. 8, and Mr. Hogan, director of a youth symphony attending with his wife, was extremely pleased to hear a live orchestra.
“I think the orchestra is excellent. Very well done. Obviously, its very well rehearsed. The conductor looks well accomplished. I think its beautiful. Very nice mixture. I am very glad to see that kind of combination taking place—beautiful.”
They had been expecting to hear recorded music, so they were delightfully surprised: “I think all of the music was very well done,” he continued. “It was all original music … We were very, very pleased to discover that it is a full live orchestra and is at such a high level—very exciting.”
The DPA orchestra performs all-original compositions while combining classical Western and Chinese instruments.
Mr. Hogan said that he was just talking to his friend and mentioned that the combination of the Chinese and Western instruments and music was very inspiring. He said, “It’s very difficult to have … a full orchestra and have them perform at such a high artistic level … It’s wonderful .. We’re very excited to be here.”
He went on to say, “My wife and I both visited China in the past and have been fans of Chinese culture for a long time. That’s why we came here—to have the opportunity to come and enjoy this. It’s wonderful to see them reenact the Monkey King and the other facets of Chinese mythology.”
Mr. Hogan concluded by commenting on the dancing. “Its just spectacular. It’s really very good. It’s really great to see a company at this level—a national and famous company like this—perform.”
PASADENA, Calif.—“Overall, the aesthetic I received from this production was one of peace, serenity, and harmony. In a world of chaos, trauma, and negativity, the Divine Performing Arts brought something most needed in this world: hope.”
Mr. Miranda, owner of an entertainment production company was in Los Angeles on Jan. 4 to attend the show that is astounding the world—Divine Performing Arts (DPA). The Divine Performing Arts 2009 World Tour will encompass 80 cities on four continents, promoting authentic Chinese culture, ancient myths, legends, and principles.
Mr. Miranda, whose company has met celebrities such as Tom Cruise, Heath Ledger, and Denzel Washington, shares his views on the show: “Beauty is the first aspect which comes to mind. Beauty through dance. Beauty through music. Beauty through costuming and visual imagery. However, that beauty transcends so much more than simple visualization. It is a beauty which touches the very soul of an individual, a beauty which brings to light how much mankind shares in all cultures and how much we are all one global family, bringing peace, love, and prosperity to a world challenged by bitterness, turmoil, and hatred … What Divine Performing Arts brings to performing arts and to contemporary culture is hope: hope for a better world, hope for a better future, hope for a better life.”
“The Divine Performing Arts, through its dance choreography, visual imagery, and musical interpretations allowed the audience to be transported to bygone eras of lush scenery and emotional drama, all with the vigor and enthusiasm of artistic youth.”
Mr. Miranda went on to say that the stories conveyed were ones of true inspiration. “The choreography portrayed the visual imagery associated with the characters, stories, and themes perfectly, while the wardrobe and set direction was truly magnificent. Additionally, integrating the dance choreography with the visual images on the projection screen as excellently as they did was pure genius.”
The DPA Orchestra was the outstanding aspect of the show for Mr. Miranda—a music lover and musician. “Live musicians establish a certain organic relationship which bonds the performers [both dancers and musicians] with the audience, and that served Divine Performing Arts extremely well.”
The orchestra combines Western and Chinese musical instruments to create a unique and beautiful sound. Currently it is the world’s only orchestra that embraces both Western and Chinese instruments together.
“The professionalism and level of excellence [the DPA performers] bring, challenges one to be the best one can be and just to be a part of this in some shape or form would be a true honor. I know I did not mention the outstanding vocalists much, but rest assured, although I did not understand the words sung, I was deeply moved by the expressiveness and vocal intensity of each performer.”
DETROIT— During the show of the Divine Performing Arts 2009 World Tour at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center in Detroit, Mr. Edward Kraynak was seen making his way toward the orchestra pit to take a look.
Mr. Kraynak was there with his wife, Susanne Rose, a retired English teacher and the mother of Congressman Thomas E. Price of Georgia.
Mr. Kraynak was the founding chairman of the Allen Park Symphony 54 years ago. Later, that symphony became the Great Lakes Symphony of Southeast Michigan.
“I think it’s [the DPA show] wonderful. It’s so nice to meet the culture from the Far East. I am pleased to see many Chinese people here. I do not know if some travel with the group or just live in different places.
“We are both into everything; literature, arts, all the various likes of humanity. And we enjoyed the performances, we think they are all equally magnificent.
“Yes, yes,” his wife chimed in. He said he particularly enjoyed the “erhu” soloist. “We wondered how she could get such big sound on that type of instrument.”
“It is good to be in touch with ancient history, such as China,” Mr. Kraynak said. His wife agreed saying they have a lot to learn from Chinese culture.
Mrs. Kraynak said the show was “Just magical, I am enjoying every bit of it, very, very lovely. I am especially impressed with the dances. I liked that last one, the Tibetan dance especially, I thought that was wonderful [“Dance of the Snow-Capped Mountain”].
“And I liked the women when they did those magical skirts, where they flung them all around and made such patterns with their skirts [“Yi Ethnic Dance”]. It was beautiful. Quite lovely! It’s just a treat to be here. I am glad they came to visit us here in Dearborn.”
She said their Chinese friends made them especially want to come tonight.
Did the show meet her expectations?
“Oh absolutely! Over and over met. I am impressed with the little girl in the story when her father was killed [she] was so graceful. I study Tai Chi, I have taken Tai Chi lessons for about 20 years now. And so the movements are familiar to me, of course, but I have never seen them done so beautifully as this. It’s a real treat, it really is. It is a lovely adventure to be here.
Summing up the DPA performance, Mr. Kraynak said: “I like the philosophy of the whole production. The meaning of life and the existence that we have. We enjoyed the peacefulness of presentation.”
- The Epochtimes (is a proud sponsor of the Divine Performing Arts 2009 World Tour)
DETROIT— “[The performance] was overwhelmingly magnificent and touching! I cried many tears, and I was inspired.”
This is how Ms. Xue described her feelings while watching Divine Performing Arts New York Company’s first of two performances at Detroit’s Ford Community & Performing Center.
Assistant director of an Oriental art school, Ms. Xue and her husband had also attended the DPA show in January 2008. She said the new programs in this season’s production “even more spectacular” than last year’s.
While a lot of movements in Chinese classical dance are quite difficult, Ms. Xue said, “these young dancers have already reached world class level. This kind of high class show made me admire them very much.
“The performers clearly and precisely expressed the essence of classical dance at a high level. I greatly admire these young dancers for giving such a high caliber and world-class performance.”
The DPA dancers were able to move the audience because they have a strong understanding of Chinese classical dance, said Ms. Xue. She explained that only when dancers truly understand and express the intrinsic substances of dance will they have the power to move audiences.
“In the dance ‘Dragon Springs Drums,’ the male performers expressed great power, skills and strength. Their expressions were rich and earth-shaking.”
She added that the dancers’ thoughts, facial expressions, and inner expressions all touched her deeply.
“The opening program, “The Five Millennia Begins” is so magnificent, so touching. After watching it, I cried. The ideas behind the production, the dance, and backdrops all fitted together perfectly. They all harmonized one another. They made it really easy for the audience to understand—very influential.”
She especially liked the “Yi Ethnic Dance,” a spirited portrait of everyday life among the Yi people, one of southern China’s largest ethnic groups.
“The costumes, dresses, and designed movements in this dance are extremely graceful. The choreographer fully took advantage of the characteristics of the Yi Ethnic apparel. They manifested the dance to be very extravagant. The use of color was very elegant, harmonious, and fitted into the numerous beautiful scenes in the backdrops.”
Ms. Xue praised the creativity of the artistic director and was impressed by the fluidity and coordination of every aspect of the performance.
“The concepts, staging and dancing were in perfect harmony,” she said. “DPA has brought Chinese culture to every corner of the world, sharing China’s 5,000 years of history. This is magnificent. I represent the Chinese people in thanking them.”
LOS ANGELES, California— “The costumes are gorgeous. The choreography is amazing. The cultural history of it all is breathtaking … it exceeded my expectations, absolutely”, expressed Mr. Lundgren at the Los Angeles showing of the Chinese New Year Spectacular on Dec. 30. When asked if he had any favorite dances, he said “the drums, the drums were amazing.”
The Chinese New Year Spectacular is part of a world tour by Divine Performing Arts (DPA) International Company, which will bring classical Chinese dance and music to audiences in over 70 cities this year.
Ms. Lundgren, who was attending the show with Mr. Lundgren was similarly impressed. “The soprano, oh, that voice! … her pitch, her pitch was perfect!”, she exclaimed.
Although Chinese is a foreign language and culture to Ms. Lundgren, she was adamant that this was not an issue. “I don’t care! … There’s music, it’s all the same language.”
Throughout the show, performances were introduced in both English and Mandarin. Mr. Lundgren said he found the English song lyrics digitally displayed on the backdrop, to be helpful. “It was nice, I was reading it, it was good to follow”, he conveyed.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of the Divine Performing Arts 2009 World Tour.
LOS ANGELES— The Divine Performing Arts made its debut this Tuesday evening at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium for what will be a 5-day run.
A local Pasadena family, the Niesens, came out to enjoy 5000 years traditional Chinese culture.
Seven-year-old Sydney most liked the dancing, saying that it was “colorful,” while her older brother, Michael, eleven, appreciated “the different types of costumes” that the performers wore.
There mother, Alice, a nurse practitioner, agreed, saying that she also loved the ‘Yi Ethnic Dance’ with silken rainbow-like skirts.
“I love that they are bringing out the Chinese culture and representing things that are important to them.” Alice was particularly moved by the dance called The Udumbara’s Bloom where, as she explained, the dancers “are imitating nature with finger movements and graceful bodies—really beautiful.”
A physician, Charles, said that his favorite part of the show is the music calling it “soothing.”
“It’s different than old Chinese music that I have heard before. It’s a combination of Western and Eastern – I am very soothed by it.”
Savannah, a full-time student at Cal-State Northridge, who watched the show with her boyfriend, said “I love it. Really nice. Beautiful. Honestly, I just like the colors, and the clothes are so pretty. Fantastic, gorgeous, jaw-dropping.”
Liczy, a young girl accompanied by her grandmother, Lois, praised the show: “It’s really pretty. The girls are gorgeous.”
Liczy particularly liked the Yi Ethnic Dance, where young women portrayed the joyful spirit of dance in silken, rainbow-like skirts.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of the Divine Performing Arts 2009 World Tour. For more information please visit DivinePerformingArts.org
SAN DIEGO, Ca.—Audience members were delighted by the sounds and visions portrayed before them when they attended the Divine Performing Arts (DPA) International Company’s show on Saturday Dec. 27.
Amongst them were Patricia Kascas with her granddaughter Valerie, both from San Diego. Mrs. Kascas, an artist, owns her own business, shared their joy in what they had experienced and said, “I loved the show! In fact the reason I wanted to come was to see all the colors and the artists and the fabrics. We have come to the Civic Theatre every Christmas, and this is the show I chose this year.”
Mrs. Kascas appreciated the culture and the messages in the performances saying, “I think the culture is fabulous. And the little stories, each is like a play, very interesting. We’ve enjoyed our evening tremendously, and I would recommend it to anyone.”
Valerie also loved each of the performances and had difficulty choosing a favorite, she said, “The show, it was amazing, I liked everything.”
