In the evening on December 28, 2008, the Divine Performing Arts (DPA) tour came to Durham, North Carolina. The Durham Performing Arts Center was just inaugurated and opened to the public only a month earlier. The DPA tickets sold out several days in advance and to satisfy those who could not get tickets, the Center had to open up the seats that were situated at the corners and were not meant for sale. All 2700 seats sold out and audience members filled the entire theater.

(The Epoch Times)

The DPA's reputation of presenting classical Chinese dance and music in gloriously colorful and exhilarating shows attracted the local Chinese population, political figures, art celebrities, professors, lawyers and businessmen. After the show, the audience's enthusiastic applause echoed with the atmosphere of ancient China.

Mr. Xu and his two sons drove almost three hours from Charlotte to see the show. Mr. Xu said he saw the performance last year and had a great feeling about it.

"This year's programs are different from last year's. I felt like crying during the show full of divine culture. Every program is great," said Mr. Xu.

For Yao Peilan, an engineer for a software company, it was also the second time she had seen the show. "I like it a lot. The artists are great and they made me feel it was important to introduce Chinese culture [to] the people in the US. The DPA does spread the benevolence and compassion of Chinese culture to Americans," said Ms. Yao.

"The entire show is of very high quality. I have seen many shows in the US but I felt the stage props and setup and the costumes in this one are absolutely top class, just like the artists."

"I watched shows when I was in China but the DPA's show is different. It promotes the [traditional] Chinese culture and really moved me. I surely will come back next year."

Ms. Zhang came to the show with several friends. She exclaimed, "It's so beautiful! Many programs teach people to do good deeds and to be kind. I felt so proud of the show and my American friends really admired it."

Software engineer Ms. Zhao and her seven family members came to the show. Ms. Zhao said, "It is an extraordinary task that the DPA exalts the five thousand years of Chinese culture. I absolutely agree with it. They presented the show very well. I admire the ethnic dances from the Li and Zang minorities, the classical stories from China about Mulan and the Monkey King ... even the music is so graceful."

"The DPA's techniques are highly modernized and there is not one minute that I felt bored. The programs are intense. The show presents a lot of traditional virtues. The costume designs, music, stories and dances can immediately draw my attention," Ms. Zhao continued.

For Mr. Chen, a businessman from Singapore, this was his first time he saw the DPA's show. "I loved it. It's really a beautiful show. I like the songs and the costumes are entertaining. We will come back next year," said Mr. Chen.

December 29, 2008

http://en.epochtimes.com/n2/content/view/9386/