(Clearwisdom.net) Flowers bloom. Girls as beautiful as flowers dance with colorful fans in hand. This is a scene in "Welcoming Spring," a dance by renowned Divine Performing Arts (DPA) International Company. Its touring show was on stage at the Universal Arts Center in Seoul on February 4, 2009, and brought the happiness of spring to the Korean people.
It was not without difficulty for DPA to perform in Seoul. Like last year, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) sought to exert pressure on theaters and local governments through diplomatic measures and economic leverage not to host the show. However, the court pronounced the CCP's efforts a failure. On February 4, the DPA was able to present the premiere of its six shows in Seoul this year.
Mr. Kim, owner of the only opera company in the city of Suwon, was among the members of audience on opening night. "This [show] has a resonant effect. Now I am ready every moment to listen to the pure music again," he said.
Mr. Kim, owner of the only opera company in the city of Suwon
He kept praising the show: "This is more than moving. It is almost indescribable. The backdrops are miraculously beautiful. When the dancers connect to the figures in the backdrops, it harmoniously showcases the divine artistic world. I think that is absolutely classic and unique."
"I feel that every facial expression of each dancer--from head to toe and even every strand of hair--shows artistry. That's how distinctive they are. Together, they presented the same art." He said that real art can be presented only when performers are genuinely considerate of one other, rather than trying every which way to make themselves stand out.
Ms. Noh, a screenwriter for the well known TV show Star King of SBS, watched the DPA premiere in Seoul and told the reporter happily, "It was like reading a philosophy book! It made you sense the 'Tao' of people in nature and the 'Tao' of heaven, earth, and the universe."
Ms. Noh, screenwriter for the TV show Star King
Ms. Noh said China had a long history and that Korea and China were deeply connected in terms of culture. She learned about classic Chinese culture and the unique culture of minority groups through the show. She was especially impressed with the stage that created a feeling of a dream. "The background design is completely different from anything I have ever seen. I feel the company put a lot of heart into the show and presented a mysterious and beautiful part of China."
Ms. Noh was familiar with the story of Monkey King. The lyrics of the songs made her sense the philosophy of harmony between heaven and man. She was very touched by DPA's introduction of classic Chinese culture to the world. She said, "It is such a great show! I hope it will be introduced to China through our TV program."
Photographer Mr. Lee said the show was very rich. "It was great to see the stories in traditional culture familiar to Easterners, including the Korean people. The idea of loyalty and obedience was wonderful."
Photographer Mr. Lee
Mr. Lee praised the costumes in the chopstick dance, the drum dance, and the fairy dance. He said, "Personally, I like the costumes of the Mongolian dancers and drum dancers. They are so gorgeous! We only know Qipao among Chinese costumes. I was very impressed with the costumes of the fairies on the background...Though we have different languages, we all could understand this program." He felt the message spread by the DPA would inspire compassion and improve morality.
Mr. Hahn, a consultant for the Sejong Chamber Orchestra and expert in the preservation of local culture, admired the marvelous power of the DPA show director. "I admire DPA for gathering all these artists!"
Mr. Hahn, a consultant for the Sejong Chamber Orchestra and expert in the preservation of local culture
Mr. Hahn said it was a great opportunity for him to see classic Chinese culture. He would like to see it again next time. He said the extraordinary power of the director was evident in the drama of the programs. He would share his feelings with others in the fields of traditional art and dance. "The story of Mulan took Disney an hour and half to tell, but it only took DPA five minutes to tell the whole story. We should learn from it."
He hopes his friends who hadn't yet seen the DPA wouldn't miss their chance. Mr. Hahn is one of the main strategy planners in the Korean government involved in spreading traditional Korean culture to the world. He said, "DPA sent a peaceful message, but with elegance, but with art. It echoed in people's hearts. Most of all, it inspired people's conscience and morality.