(Clearwisdom.net) (Minghui correspondent Zhou Rong and Li Huirong from Taipei) The Divine Performing Arts held its first performance in the Taipei Cultural Center on the evening of April 7, 2007. It was the first of fifteen shows in five large cities in Taiwan, including Taichung, Chiayi, Tainan, and Gaohsing. The Divine Performing Arts performed in many cities in North America, Germany, France, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand and the performances led to a wave of understanding of Chinese culture.

The wonderful performance in the Taipei Cultural Center touched audiences deep in their hearts. Many shed tears of delight and appreciation while watching the show. After each performance, everyone gave warm applause and smiled.

The Divine Performing Arts arrived on the island for the first time, where there are more Chinese people than anywhere except mainland, and where traditional Chinese culture still exists. The members of the troupe had a special expectation for this special island. Guan Guimin said that he came to Taiwan for the first time and felt like he was coming home, as the language there is Chinese. Jiang Min, who is unable to return China because of the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong, said it felt like coming home, and that the performance of traditional culture would be well understood.

The tickets for the first show were sold out in three hours, which showed the Taiwan public's support. Important figures watching the show included Vice President Lu Hsiu-lien and others in the fields of politics, art, media, business, and education, which gives an indication of Taiwan's attention and treasuring of righteous culture.

Vice President: Confirm the Divine Performing Arts' promotion of cultural essence

Taiwan Vice President Lu Hsiu-lien was present at the first show in Taipei and gave a three-minute speech. She praised the Divine Performing Arts' promotion of the cultural essence of the Han Dynasty (206 BC �" 220 AD) and Tang Dynasty (618 �" 907 AD) prosperous times.

The Vice President said that she hoped the wonderful performance of the Divine Performing Arts could help everyone make efforts for the peace between the straits.

Dance Choreographer: Praise for the choreography of the Divine Performing Arts.

Renowned choreographer Dr. Liu Feng-Hsueh watched the performance. She praised the Divine Performing Arts for its ethnic characteristic and modern features. She liked every program. The performers are young but performed very well.

When asked which program she liked most, Dr. Liu said, "The soprano impressed me very much, not only the clear voice but popular expression. The whole performance includes belief and dancing with Chinese cultural characteristics. The choreography was very thoughtful."

Painter-calligrapher: Watching the performance was like "cleaning hearts"

Li Chi-mao, professor of Arts University and a painter-calligrapher said, "Watching the performance of the Divine Performing Arts not only was enjoyable, but makes one think and cleanses entire heart. Today, as morality is degenerating, I am fortunate to see the wonderful performance of the Divine Performing Arts. It is a cleansing event. The performance of this troupe is worth promoting."

After watching the performance, he said that the performance presented not only the culture of the prosperous Tang Dynasty, but also of Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism. He especially liked the explanation and wording of each program, and suggested that it be translated into each language when the Divine Performing Arts performs on tour, so that all audiences around the world could experience the extraordinary grace.

Central Standing Committee Member Praises the Program

Kuomintang Central Standing Committee member Ms. Chiang Fang-chih, the third daughter-in-law of Chiang Ching-guo, [the son of Chiang Kai-shek and former President of Taiwan] said after watching the performance, "The cultural connotation that the programs presented showed the diversity of Chinese culture. The various cultures were presented beautifully. "

She praised the Divine Performing Arts in promotion of Chinese culture through art. Each dancer performed well and had a gentle smile. She was impressed most with the program "Candlelight Vigil". "The whole world should have light, hope and direction. The program not only was artful, but expressed that the human world must have belief and purpose."

"Chinese culture is truly great," said Ms. Chiang, "Each program was deeply meaningful."

Former General Manager of a TV Station: Gods watch us everywhere

Chiang Hsia, former general manager of a TV Station said performances were excellent. Each performer was beautiful. She said she wished she could learn Chinese dance after watching the show. She said with a smile, "If I learn Chinese dance, my body will be as beautiful as these girls."

Ms. Chiang said, "I read reports that the CCP tried to suppress the Divine Performing Arts. I thought that the CCP is ignorant because the programs do not have any political content. If the CCP had confidence, it would support such an art troupe."

Regarding the historical stories in the programs, she said, "Culture is based on life. Taking away culture, life is only a shell. In seeing the spirit of Yue Fei, traditional culture, even Taiwan's life, all this suggests that our common culture can be a model to learn from." She said she would come to watch the show next year and bring her children.

Renowned artist: Praise for the background screen

Renowned painter Yan Mao-chin praised the costume, background screen, and stage design. He said it was worth the ticket price from his professional point of view. When young, he participated in stage design. He said, "The design of the costumes is very good. The costumes match the actions well." He was impressed most with "White Lotus on Snowy Mountains"

He said, "The images on the background screen are simple and clear. Some special techniques were used, such as the smoking war indicator, and Buddha images in Dunhuang Caves. The Buddha images danced along with the dancer, which appeared to have been especially designed and fresh."

He emphasized, "Many backdrop screens were well designed. For example, in the screen for the soprano, plums were shown. The other program has three celestial maidens on the screen, which was unique."

The screen for the "Herding on the Mongolian Plains" was simple: blue sky with white clouds, some flowers on a vast plain. It coordinated well with the dancing and formed a contrast with the dancers. The language of art is simple."

"I understand the intention of the Divine Performing Arts, especially their attention to traditional dance and historical topics. It is very commendable."

General Manger of Public TV Station: Experience World Class Art

Hu Yuan-hsin, General Manger of a Public TV Station, and his wife came to watch the world class art performance. In an interview, he said that he saw the promotion of the essence of Chinese traditional culture from the performance.

As a former director of the Central News Agency, Mr. Hu has keen observations about the current society. He said that from the performance, people of different beliefs can understand the description of truth and compassion and belief. He said, "People of different backgrounds and different beliefs can have common understanding through the performances and understand Falun Gong's spirit."

Mr. Hu was impressed most with the program "A Dunhuang Dream". He said in addition, "The two songs of 'Why Refuse' and 'Tiananmen Please Tell Me' help people understand the problems that Falun Gong faces. For those who know about Falun Gong, they will have a deeper understanding of the practitioners' belief."

After watching the performance, some audience members expressed concern about the persecution of Falun Gong

Human rights lawyer Su You-chen said that he knew about the persecution of Falun Gong in China. He said, "I admire that the Divine Performing Arts presents the facts of the persecution of Falun Gong in China through this performance."

He especially liked the song "Tiananmen Please Tell Me". He hoped that the persecution will end and CCP regime will realize that the persecution is wrong.

He expected that the grace of Dafa will spread to each corner of the world. Such a performance as the Divine Performing Arts can awaken ones' conscience and kind thoughts to improve human beings' morality.

Former advisor of national policy, Huang Yue-sui, said, "Comparing with the severe persecution, such programs are too few." After watching the performance, he said Falun Gong is completely different from what is described by the CCP's propaganda.

Mr. Huang carried a TV program about Dr. Wang Wenyi when she visited Taiwan even though she felt the pressure. She persisted in letting Falun Gong practitioners to speak out. From the pressure she experienced, she said she could imagine what kind of pressure that Falun Gong practitioners bear.

Praise from invited guests

Chiao Ren, former Director of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, and his wife came to watch the performance. He said, "Under the invitation of Professor Ming Chu-cheng of Taiwan University, I came to watch. Though I don't know much about the arts, I felt the performance was very good." Regarding the CCP's interference to the Divine Performing Arts, he said "Religion and art should have freedom. Any free society should move towards this direction."

Bao Tsung-he, Vice President of Taiwan University, after watching the first half of the performance, said he was impressed most with the erhu performance. Qi Xiaochun's performance was energetic and touched people.

Wang Tu-fa, member of Legislation Committee, watched the performance and said it was excellent. He said that culture and art do not have national boundaries, but contribute to world peace. The performance presented Chinese culture and he wished that through culture China and world will have peace. He was impressed with "To the Rightful Place". From the program, one can see that good is rewarded with good, and evil meets retribution.

Feedback from audience members

A lady in her fifties told the reporter that the performance was excellent and wonderful. She wanted to watch when she saw the advertisement in March in National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. But after several rounds, she could not get a ticket. For the first show on April 7, she tried her luck and realized her wish to watch the performance.

She said the dancers of the "Herding on the Mogolian Plains" had a solid foundation. Their performance of rolling and riding horses on stage made it seem like they were really on the plains. She liked to see martial arts performance from the young. She said that she was fortunate to see the performance since there are not many traditional programs nowadays.

A reporter noted that this international performance was hosted by a foreigner who can speak Chinese. It indicated that there is a wave of interest around the world to learn Chinese, and many people of other nations will learn Chinese and Chinese culture.

When the program "Forsythia in Spring" was performed, the lady dancers threw yellow octagonal turbans into the air. Many audience members followed the gesture with their hands.

Miss Chien admired the orderly and disciplined performances of the dancers. She liked each program. She liked Qi Xaochun's erhu performance. Unfortunately, she had only played one song.

Lin Mei-lian, standing director of Taipei Speech Training Association, said the players' eyes and gestures could speak. Her daughter was in charge of lighting on stage for the Divine Performing Arts tour.

Many in the audience were impressed with each dancer's performance.