(Clearwisdom.net) The 2008 Chinese New Year Spectacular successfully completed its fifth show at the Sony Center in Toronto at 10:30 p.m. on January 20, 2008. Audience members of different nationalities rose to a standing ovation to extend their appreciation and compliments to the artists of the Divine Performing Arts touring company. Western and Eastern audience members alike had high praise for the performance.

Homemaker: The show was beautiful, inspiring and educational


Darlene and her daughter

Darlene attended the show with her adopted Chinese daughter. She was very pleased with the evening and said they loved all the performances in the program. She commented, "The dancers are highly talented, the costumes were so beautiful, and the music was also beautiful. My daughter also learned something about Chinese culture. We really enjoyed it." Darlene liked the dance drama "The Power of Awareness." When the three huge words, "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance," appeared on the screen, she found them stunning and beautiful. She said it was a perfect production. Darlene added that they saw a Chinese performance last year. It was mainly music, but the show tonight included music, dance, as well as gorgeous and dazzling costumes. If she could only use three words to describe the show, Darlene said that she would say, "Beautiful, inspiring and educational."

Her daughter said she liked the show very much, particularly the piece with the drumming ("Drummers of the Tang Court"). She smiled, and then said that she actually loved all the performances.

Native Chinese person: The show bears rich and profound culture messages, representing traditional Chinese culture

Mr. Pan of Toronto came to the show at the recommendation of his friend. He commented that all the programs were wonderful. The performance with the drums was very special to him. Mr. Pan said, "The performance portrayed traditional Chinese culture, including, that we should revere heaven and accept our destiny, revere Gods and Buddhas, and be modest and so on. All of this is part of our long-standing Chinese culture."

He felt that the traditional Chinese culture expressed in the show was meaningful to local Chinese, because they came here from China, and many of their children were born there, yet they have little knowledge of ancient Chinese culture. What they know about Chinese culture is incomplete and limited.

"I feel we should be able to learn a great deal of things [from watching the different performances], such as the performance about chopsticks ("Chopstick Zest"). It looked simple and easy, but the underlying meaning it expressed is rather profound and philosophical."

Government official: The colors were rich and vibrant, the show is rich in culture and customs


Government official Brian and his son

After seeing the show, government official Brian and his son commented that the show was excellent and fantastic, and that the colors were rich and visually beautiful. The performances were vibrant, and rich in culture and customs. His favorite number was the one with the drums, while the opening piece, "Creation," was his son's favorite.

Stage costume designer: The show was rich in melody, graceful, phenomenal and pleasant

Samara is a stage costume designer. She designed costumes for Canada's Asian Culture Festival, Toronto's famous dancer Peter Chin and different theaters. She has extensive knowledge of different cultures and dances.

Samara commented that the dances in the show were beautiful. They were as if from a different world, very serene and wonderful. She felt that the beautiful music, dances and visually life-like backdrops could transport one to another world.

Software engineer: The colors are splendid, rich in energy and entertaining

Chris Strachan is a software engineer. His favorite part of the programs was the dancing. He said that one cannot see such dancing anywhere else. He also said that the costumes were very colorful and beautiful.