High Praise for the New Year Spectacular in Atlanta (Photos)

(Clearwisdom.net) On the evening of January 5, 2008, the Chinese New Year Spectacular performed by Divine Performing Arts continued at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Atlanta, Georgia. The audience expressed high praise for the performance.

A packed hall at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre

A view of the audience

People attentively watch the performance

Maria Fernatis and her family watched the show together. She said, "It is very beautiful. I enjoyed it very much."

Dawn Adams (right), a teacher at Wheeler High School, Marietta, Georgia, in an interview. Ms. Adams said, "I thought it was fun, colorful, enjoyable... I would recommend the show to my students."

Audience Has High Praise for Performance

Maria Fernatis, who works for a credit reporting company in Atlanta, her husband Jeff Schulz and her daughter Manna Say-In Schulz attended the show together. She said, "It is very beautiful. I enjoyed it very much. We all liked the 'Mongolian Bowl Dance,' 'Lady of the Moon,' and 'Drummers of the Tang Court.'" Her daughter indicated that these dances were her favorites as well.

Ms. Fernatis said, "The performance is very diverse. It has lots of different elements of Chinese dance. I think the Chinese dance combines acrobatics, beautiful costumes and traditional dance, so it's very interesting to watch."

She continued, "It is also interesting to learn about the Chinese belief and the afterlife, that if you are good, you actually are rewarded after life."

James Schneider, who used to work for Steinway Piano Galleries in Atlanta, commented, "I think it is fantastic! I enjoyed the whole program, but I especially like the music, the drums and the dance."

James lived in Beijing for less than a year in 1997. He said, "I traveled with a Chinese pop star, Lin Weiwei. We did a tour all over China."

He continued, "The whole thing tonight is beautiful. It also expresses the hope of some of the people who live under oppression in mainland China."

Joalene Mason, a 16-year-old student at an Atlanta high school, said after watching the show, "I love it. I like the bowl dancers. The women's costumes are gorgeous. The [dance] with a female Falun Gong practitioner persecuted to death is really nice and beautiful."

Andrea Hayworth, a lawyer for General Motors, said after watching the show, "It's fabulous. The costumes are really pretty. I like the 'Mongolian Bowl Dance.' I also like 'Water Sleeves,' and the drums." She continued, "I learned a lot more about China lately. I learned a lot of Chinese culture, and I know the concerns about the oppression, about the laws that affect people. That really bothers me."

Rhonda Ballard, who lives in Gainsville, Georgia, has two adopted Chinese daughters. One is 8-year-old Lindsay "PinPin" Ballard from Jiangxi Province, and the other is 4-year-old Kelli Ann "XieXian" Ballard from Guangdong Province. Ms. Ballard said, "The show is very beautiful. I like the 'Mongolian Bowl Dance.' I really like the drums. The show is very detailed. The music, the dance, the Chinese culture... I thought it was very neat."

She continued, "My daughters are adopted from China. I told people before I came today how much I wanted to see it. I love the Chinese. I think they are the most artistic people in the whole world. The show is a very good cultural experience for me and my family, especially for my daughters to enjoy since this is their birth country culture."

Rafael Zimmerman, a graduate student at Clemson University, South Carolina, said, "I heard of the show from a friend of mine. The show is good. I like the drums and Erhu."

Rugia Michael, an account manager in Atlanta, said after watching the show, "It is very beautiful, very enjoyable and very colorful. Everything is beautiful - the music, the dances, everything."

He continued, "I liked the performance about Falun Gong, and also the singers. The performance about Falun Gong is very informative, and it's a good way to express feelings - how people feel about Falun Gong. You learn from them. I am very interested in other cultures. The show enhances my interest in Eastern culture."

After the Atlanta performance, the Divine Performing Arts touring company's next stop will be Dallas, Texas area for three performances at the Nokia Theatre in Grand Prairie from January 7 to 9.

Time: 8 p.m. January 7, 8, and 9. The Divine Land Marching Band will be present during the shows on Monday and Tuesday.
Price: $29, $39, $49, $69, $89 (each ticket will pay additional $4 for place charge.)
Ticket hotline: [phone], 888-90-shows (Chinese)
Tickets online: http://ticket.ntdtv.com/dallas