(Clearwisdom.net) Divine Performing Arts (DPA) opened its first show at Seattle's Paramount Theatre on Sunday, January 18, 2009.

Ms. Caroline Hartse, Professor of Anthropology at Washington State Olympic College, came with her photographer husband to see the DPA show.

Afterwards, Ms. Hartse described her feelings about the evening's performance. "I enjoyed it very much. It was very beautiful and very moving." She explained that many pieces touched her, in particular, the dance-drama "Heaven Awaits Us Despite Persecution." She said, "The one where the man is harmed and killed and the Buddhas come down... it's very moving and very hopeful. It is very sad, but then hopeful. So very moving."

Professor Hartse continued, "A lot of the pieces were just so beautiful in terms of color, just very sensual. The pieces that told the story like the monk warning people and they didn't believe him and then he helped them ("Monk Ji Gong Abducts the Bride"). It's very moving, the aspect doing what is right even if people don't believe you."

She explained, "I think that a lot of times, we see people in our daily lives that we look down on or think they are crazy or something is wrong with them, but really underneath, there is a spirit that we tend not to see. So, the story is to really see beyond that, to see the true spirit of the person rather than the external."

The reporter asked Professor Hartse whether she had heard about the persecution of this particular group (Falun Gong), to which she replied, "I actually came last year to the show because I work with [a Falun Gong practitioner]. She also told me some stories [about the persecution]. I remember last year, there was a different piece that told a similar story, but I thought that this one, for some reason, was more moving. Last year was very good but this year seemed more intensive."

Ms. Hartse felts that the overall message of the performance is hope. When she was asked whether she felt this performance affected people, she stated: "I think that it makes people think about doing what you know is right, regardless of this world's consequences. ... underneath, there is something that's a stronger spirit that survives. I thought that was well presented in the show."

Ms. Hartse stated that she liked the music very much, but she liked the dance the best. She thought that the lyrics of the songs were very powerful. "The songs are talking about looking beyond the surface, looking beyond. I really like the phrase about the endless needs in this world, but you have to look beyond to something more, because this world will end. I thought that was very clear. The words, their meanings were clear and had a very deep meaning if you stop and think about them."

When Professor Hartse was asked to comment on the show from the point of view of her profession, she answered, "In terms of anthropology, I would encourage people just to see culture. But also, we live in a global society and so much that is presented is really relevant to living in this world. It's very, very rich and historical. I enjoy that part as well, and the spiritual message as well."

She continued: "But [even] if they weren't even looking at the spiritual part, they would just learn so much about culture and eternal human problems and how humans deal with things."

When she was asked whether she thought that the show offers solutions to humanities problems, Ms. Hartse replied, "Well, I think so, except that I'm not sure everyone would follow it. If people understand the message -- to see beyond the surface of someone to a deeper spirit and to respect that and allow that to exist, rather than to kill people and disagree with people."

Professor Hartse continued, "To know the truth and to see that within other people is this spark of divine or life that is also within me and to also respecting that and to let the person be.'

The reporter asked her, since she is aware of the persecution of Falun Gong in China, whether she thinks there is anything we as Americans can do to stop it. She answered, "I think that support in any way helps. We can come to something like this [the DPA show] to be educated. It's hard because a solution has to be peaceful and I don't know beyond really trying to advocate for the right of people to have their belief and to speak what they think. But I am really opposed to violent forces to make a government do something. The question is how we make people aware, because in China if you try to do that, you will probably be persecuted," she added.