(Clearwisdom.net) On the third day of the Lunar New Year, February 9, 2008, the Divine Performing Arts Company held its last performance of the New Year Splendor at Radio City Music Hall, the largest theater of its kind in the world. The full house added excitement to the Chinese New Year celebration.
Full house at Radio City Music Hall during the 14th show of the Divine Performing Arts Chinese New Year Splendor
On February 6, 2008, the New York Times published an article which was very biased against the Divine Performing Arts show. However, it failed to deter the audience as the Chinese Communist Party might have expected. Many audience members interviewed by Clearwisdom reporters said that they had not read the article and those who had read it found it very "difficult to understand."
Veronica Fill, a researcher from Columbia University, attended the show. She decided to come after she received a flyer in her office. When asked which number was her favorite, she said the dance, "Water Sleeves," because of the slow movements of the dancers and their elegant hand gestures.
Lenise who works for Morgan Stanley, and Chainian, a therapist in New York, came with two other friends. Chainian found the show very entertaining and very colorful and said that the costumes were beautiful. This was the first time they had see such a show. Lenise said that she was impressed with the flow of the program. When asked which was their favorite performance of the evening, they both said the drums first and then they indicated that they were moved by the dance, "The Risen Lotus Flower."
A physician from New Jersey, Dr. Hessein brought his whole family to see the Splendor. They stayed around to talk about the show after it ended. Dr. Hessein said that they had many Chinese friends, and they wanted to know more about Chinese culture. He said that he liked the drums, the dance, "Nymphs of the Sea," and the sopranos. Before he could finish, his mother jumped in with, "Everything was good!" Dr. Hessein added, "Very elegant."
Judes, a civil engineer who watched the show on February 8, said to the reporter during intermission. "It is so good.!" He liked the drum dance, the "Nymphs of the Sea" and the dance, "The Fruits of Goodness." His wife, Augustin, who is a federal officer, added that she liked the first number, "Creation." She thought that all the performers were beautiful.
A man from Staten Island came in a wheelchair with his family. He said that he had never seen anything like this show, and he felt that he had finally seen genuine Chinese culture. He liked the drum dance very much and found it very exciting.
Four friends had a Chinese dinner before they came to see the show. They said, "We like China and we love to celebrate the Chinese New Year. The costumes and the dances were so beautiful."
From ancient times, music and dance have been people's means to honor divine beings and cultivate their character. The Divine Performing Arts company presents the essence of traditional arts to today's people caught up in the hustle and bustle of modern society. People truly benefit while enjoying this beautiful experience for the eyes and ears.
February 9, 2008