Epoch Times Staff Mar 14, 2009

Ms. Degraaf, an acupuncturist, at the Divine Performing Arts show in Augusta (The Epoch Times)

(Clearwisdom.net) AUGUSTA, Ga.--For one night only, an enthralled Augusta audience was transported back millennia for a glimpse of a lost heritage, brought to life by the New York-based Divine Performing Arts Company's celebration of classical Chinese dance and music held at Bell Auditorium on March 13.

"Wonderful poetry" was how Ms. Degraaf, an acupuncturist, described the performance.

World-class performers, stunning costumes, 3-D backdrops, powerful drum rhythms, and a full orchestra portray legends and values of centuries-old China.

"It was fantastic. It's really hard to grasp the culture when you study it from a book. But to see it live, in a performance--it's amazing. And it's very poetic, which is why I love studying Chinese medicine. It's wonderful poetry to the history of China."

Ms. Degraaf learned about the millennia-old world of the Chinese ancients while spending a "very exciting" five years studying Chinese medicine in London.

"Yes, it was much more difficult than studying Western types of sciences. There is a philosophy and a true belief that came from many, many years ago. Four thousand years ago is when Chinese medicine really started, so it was interesting to see how it has transformed into the modern world and into Western culture.

"You know, it's interesting--the point that they're trying to get across to the American culture ... I think that we need to open our horizons to other cultures of the world. So it's great to see this in America, and [they] are really showing the true culture ... [to] the rest of the world.

"It's wonderful to be an American, of course, but to really experience the cultures of the rest of the world is a great understanding of the true belief that we're all one," Ms. Degraaf said.

Her favorite part of the program? "Probably the drumming, just because it has such an impact on you--the beat really gets to the heart of the rhythm of Chinese culture."

In one dance, "Dragon Spring Drummers," the buoyant, fun-loving spirit of China's folk culture comes to life with thunderous drumming and demanding aerial work.

Source http://theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/13674/