(Clearwisdom.net) On January 30, 2009, Divine Performing Arts (DPA) presented its opening show in Taegu, Korea, marking the beginning of DPA's Asian leg of the 2009 World Tour. The show attracted not only many Koreans, but also many Chinese, including several Chinese women who came to Korea through marriage.
Audience at the DPA show in Taegu
Ms. Zhang from China: DPA is so beautiful; I've seen it three times in two years.
Ms. Zhang moved to Korea after marrying her Korean husband two years ago. She is a fan of the DPA. This was the third time she had attended a DPA show. She repeatedly said, "Beautiful show, beautiful show." She was happy that the spectacular performances entertained her whole family.
Speaking with a northeastern accent, Ms. Zhang is a typical northern Chinese lady. Her favorite piece was "Mongolian Chopsticks." She told the reporter, "It was simply gorgeous." In the vast grasslands, lovely Mongolian girls danced with chopsticks in their hands, welcoming guests from afar. Their colorful costumes, together with the realistic backdrop scene, totally captured Ms. Zhang's heart.
Ms. Zhang was impressed by the costumes. She admired the designs, the colors, and materials. She was sorry that people in China are not able to see this show. She felt especially fortunate that her loving husband brought her to the DPA show every year.
She also hoped that more Chinese people could enjoy the show. This time she brought two good friends with her. They are also Chinese women married to Koreans.
Ms. Luo: The show makes me feel like a new person
Ms. Luo and her friend, Ms. Guan, are both married to Koreans. According to Ms. Luo, the show was a big pleasant surprise, "We had heard about the DPA's success around the world. The show is about our Chinese traditions and heritage--that's why we are here. But we were still hugely surprised by the show. The backdrop design is simply gorgeous! I was totally drawn into the heavenly scenes on stage."
Ms. Luo also said that, strangely enough, after watching the show she felt like a new person. She has never felt anything like this before. During the show, she could not stop her tears. "It's sad that people in China never get to see a show like this. I had no idea that our Chinese traditional culture would be so warmly received in a foreign country."
Both Ms. Luo and Ms. Guan kept saying how much they loved the show. They tried to find the best words to describe their appreciation. They love every single one of the programs.
Shanghai lady in tears: I will come again next time
Ms. Wang is from Shanghai. Pretty and soft spoken, she is a typical southern woman. Ms. Wang came to Korea through marriage four years ago. This was her first time to see a DPA show, which helped her to learn about China's ancient traditions even as she enjoyed the warm feelings of her home country.
Ms. Wang said that the show was a completely new experience for her. She loved every program. In her own words, "The more I see, the more I admire." At intermission, she could not wait to see the second half of the show.
Ms. Wang said "Heaven Awaits Us Despite Persecution" was her favorite piece, because it is based on reality. Trying to control her tears, she said that the story deeply touched her.
She recalled how the young daughter rushed to her dying father and how the wife expressed her devastation through dance. Ms. Wang sighed, "That's how Falun Gong practitioners are treated in China." She was totally immersed in the story.
Ms. Wang was incredulous when she heard that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) had tried to stop the show from coming to Seoul. She indicated that she would definitely attend the DPA show next year.
Taegu is the third largest city in Korea. The city has been known for centuries as a center of education and culture and is known for its textile industry. Buddhism and Confucianism are both deeply influential here. This year, the CCP government also tried to keep the show from being staged in Taegu, but the Taegu city government did not cave in to the pressure. Minister Kim of Taegu said, "The CCP tried to stop the DPA show from being performed here, but its strategies will never work in Taegu. Maybe they will in other places, but not in Taegu. People in our city have always believed in Confucianism--we are known for that. If our people were to find out that the CCP was interfering to get the show canceled, they wouldn't let it happen." Everyone was happy that the DPA finally made it to Taegu.
From February 4 to 8, DPA will perform in Seoul's Universal Arts Center. Those who love pure and beautiful performing arts should take advantage of this rare opportunity.
