(Clearwisdom.net) Since the first curtain rose on January 3, 2007 in Vancouver, Canada, Divine Performing Arts has visited over 30 cities in Canada, Europe, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan and Korea, giving over 80 performances and attracting a full house for each performance. The total audience exceeded 200,000. The impact of the show was unprecedented. People from all walks of life complimented the performances as consummate and superb, showcasing the broadness and profundity of China's Divinely-inspired culture.
Divine Performing Arts toured the Asia-Pacific region from March 10 to April 25, 2007. Within one and a half months, the troupe staged 40 exquisite performances, inspiring the audience to understand Chinese culture from a new perspective, leading them to further appreciate the beauty of pure and authentic culture and art, and enlightening the world's people to the Buddha's grace and benevolence. Analyzing the feedback from a large number of social dignitaries, scholars and other experts, we learn that Divine Performing Arts' performances provided them an opportunity to appreciate the profundity of traditional Chinese culture and ponder over the inner meaning of Falun Dafa. They also became clear about the fact that the Chinese Communist Party persecutes Falun Gong.
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Audiences Shower Divine Performing Arts with Praise and Acclamations
At almost each of Divine Performing Arts' performances in the Asia-Pacific region, when the final curtain fell, the audience would give the performers a standing ovation. Politicians from different countries, scholars from academia, people from the legal community, art circles and many others sent congratulations to the performances. Many people attended the performances as a family, bringing the elderly and the young. Many dignitaries came to the performances and were happy to be interviewed by the media after the show to share their heartfelt admiration.
Taiwanese President Chen Shui-Bian, Premier of the Executive Yuan Su Tseng-Chang presented flowers prior to the beginning of the final performance in Chiayi City, congratulating Divine Performing Arts for a successful tour. Vice-president Lu Hsiu-Lien personally came to the premiere in Taipei and addressed the audience for three minutes, complimenting Divine Performing Arts for inheriting the culture treasures of the flourishing era of the Han and Tang dynasties.
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Divine Performing Arts presented its finale at the auditorium of National Chung Cheng University in Chiayi City, Taiwan. Before the performance began, Chiayi County Magistrate Chen Ming-wen, Chiayi Mayor Huang Min-hui, and legislator Chuang He-chi highly praised the troupe for carrying forward traditional Chinese culture through the arts, and issued certificates of appreciation and gold medals.
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When the troupe toured Australia, Australian Attorney General Phillip Ruddock, NSW Upper House MP David Clarke, NSW MP Paul Mcleay, Queensland Premier Peter Beattie, Lord Mayor of Brisbane Campbell Newman, Gold Coast Mayor Ron Clark, Queensland Minister for Health Stephen Robertson and Ms. Margaret May, Gold Coast MP and Chairwoman of the Australia-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group and other dignitaries sent congratulatory letters.
| Australian Minister for Vocational and Technical Education: "I would also like to congratulate the New Tang Dynasty Television Network for its commitment to providing a celebration of this scale for the worldwide Asian community." |
| MP Margaret May: "The performance is a showcase of colorful costumes, wonderful music and dancing." |
When the show toured Japan, many politicians from the Japanese Senate and House of Representatives sent congratulations to Divine Performing Arts, sincerely wishing them success. Those who wrote included Japanese Member of the House of Representative and Associate Director of the International Bureau of the Liberal Democratic Party Kawajo Shika, House Representative Yichimura Kouichirou, Hirofumi Hirano, Takashi Otsuka, Yoshihiro Seki, and member of Senate Motoyuki Odachi, Tsuchiya Takayuki, member of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly, member of Kshiwazaki City Assembly Takao Miida and other politicians.
Prior to Divine Performing Arts' performances in New Zealand, the troupe received many messages of congratulations from people of all circles, including ministers, heads of political parties, consuls of foreign countries and local city mayors. During the shows in Korea, the troupe received congratulations from Korean people from all walks of life. A Member of the Korean Parliament, the Taiwan representative in Korea and the Seoul Chinese High School presented large bouquets of flowers to congratulate the successful performances.
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Member of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly Tsuchiya, "Don't forget about the persecution of Falun Gong." |
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Transcends Boundaries of Race and Language, Soothes the Soul
The Divine Performing Arts' performances, focused on creating and finding humanity's authentic culture, not only amazed Chinese people, but also transcended the boundaries of race, language and religion. Many Western and Eastern audience members were moved to tears, and felt that their souls were soothed.
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Three-term Korean MP, nominee for the Nobel Prize for Peace, and the United Nations Peace Ambassador Kim Huw-yee and his wife, an expert on dance, watched the show and had high praise for it. They loved every performance. "As expected, I saw the essence of Chinese arts." Mr. Kim said that the dance, "To the Rightful Place" showed heavenly beings taking the spirit of a Falun Gong practitioner, beaten to death in the persecution, to Heaven. It presented the unity of Heaven and the people, and salvation. He expressed his wish for the Chinese government to understand the truth about Falun Gong and to stop the persecution.
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Tsuchiya Takayuki, member of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly said that he was deeply impressed by the dance, "To the Rightful Place," which told the story of a Falun Gong practitioner who was tortured to death and taken to Heaven, and of the punishment of the persecutors. Mr. Tsuchiya said that he had learned about the persecution of Falun Gong in China, and he admired Falun Gong practitioners' efforts to expose and stop the persecution. He said the rich and meaningful program and beautiful dances have spread an important message through the beauty of art and told more people about Falun Gong.
Mr. David Clarke, a Member of Parliament from New South Wales, Australia said in an interview that the show manifested Chinese culture in a way that people in Australia can enjoy it. He said that he enjoyed every performance in the program because the inner contents, such as freedom, morality and compassion, are very profound. He congratulated NTDTV for successfully promoting such good performances around the world.
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Out of admiration for Divine Performing Arts, Abbot Lee from South Korea generously invited one hundred and fifty monks from his temple to the show.
Abbot Lee admired Divine Performing Arts for presenting the five-thousand-year-old culture within such a short time. Regarding the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) attempted obstruction of the show, Abbot Lee said it was very wrong to apply pressure to the arts. The five-thousand-year-old Chinese culture was brilliant, and what the CCP thought it could gain could not make up for its loss.
A nun praised the show, saying, "I could feel a divine might throughout the show. The costumes were magnificent, as well. I truly experienced a very strong power. My spirit was moved by every movement of the artists."
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Interpreting the Nature of Cultivation, Exposing the Persecution of Falun Gong
The Divine Performing Arts performances moved people of different countries. The performances showcased the profound connotations of the unity of Heaven and man, and the divinely-inspired culture of the Chinese nation, keeping the audience enthralled. In particular, through and elegant and artistic methods, it exposed the Chinese Communist Party's eight years of brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, and conveyed the message that "Good will be rewarded and evil will be punished" and Buddhas' compassionate salvation. The audience gained a clear understanding and saw through the CCP's lies and persecution, and cherished even more Falun Gong practitioners' counter-persecution efforts.
When the curtain was raised at the start of each performance, many audience members were stunned by the magnificent splendor of the dance, "Creation." In the dance, benevolent Lord Buddha led numerous gods and Buddhas to come to the human world, creating a beautiful future for the sentient beings in the vast universe. How many beings in Heaven and Earth can understand?
The principal of Renyi Middle School of Chiayi City, Wu Chao-yi commented that it was the first time in his nearly 70 years to see such a scene as in the first dance, "Creation." He said he was immersed in a peaceful and exciting atmosphere during the entire show.
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The principal of Renyi Middle School of Chiayi City, Wu Chao-yi was immersed in the atmosphere created by the dance, "Creation" |
Audience member Mr. Satou said, "I can't describe how moved I am. My tears flowed when I heard Soprano Jiang Min's song, 'Why Refuse.'" I can't describe my feeling in words. I seem to have regained the memory from the deepest part of my life. I seem to be one of those who followed the Master Buddha to the world." He said he knew he understood the meaning of the song even though he didn't remember the lyrics. He couldn't help crying.
The lyrics of the song "Why Refuse" are as follows:
"My friend, do you remember?
We came as guests here, from above.
Over so many lives, for whom was it we waited?
And for what have we sought amidst this haze?
Is the vow from before still inscribed in your heart?
Then why refuse, when the facts are before you?
The followers of the Way are not wrong.
Higher lives are fulfilling their vows.
What people have eagerly awaited now unfolds.
The state of the divine is eternal compassion.
Yet time will pass in a twinkling."
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Ms. Shelley Wilkins, the director of the Citizens' Commission on Human Rights in Australia, and her husband Mr. John Wilkins enjoyed the show. They strongly felt the spirit of the show. They expressed that the values that the show manifested are universal and very traditional. Mr. Wilkins enjoyed the song, "Finding Truth." He said that the universal values the show conveyed are beneficial to everybody, so everybody is able to enjoy the show. Mr. and Mrs. Wilkins said they worked at human rights organizations, and had already learned about the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong.
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Philip Crown is a leader of the Maori tribes near Waitomo in New Zealand, and he has made great efforts to promote traditional culture. He told the reporter that he thought all of the performances were great. He especially liked the Erhu performance and "A Dunhuang Dream." He said that there were stories about Buddha in Maori tribes, too. He showed a great understanding of the stories in the show. It was the first time that he had heard about the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. He was very saddened and didn't know such things were still happening.
Audience member Dianne said that the performances about Falun Gong were very good. What they displayed was compassion, which is what today's world needs most. She felt that the Falun Gong practitioners' performance reflects their kindness. She took some flyers about Falun Gong, saying that she could not understand why the persecution of Falun Gong is happening in mainland China. She was moved by the dance, "Candlelight Vigil."
The dance, "To the Rightful Place" portrays a story taking place in China. A woman Falun Gong practitioners was tortured to death for refusing to give up her belief. When the woman Falun Gong practitioner was finally guided by the Bodhisattva to the holy Buddha's paradise, the Japanese audience members who were polite and reserved during the performance could not help bursting into thunderous applause. They were deeply enthralled by the scenes of the Buddha's paradise, and gave warm response to the message conveyed by the performance that good is rewarded and evil is punished.
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The CCP's Interference Promotes Divine Performing Arts
The Divine Performing Arts' performances contain the essence of China's 5,000 years of culture, leaving the audience stunned and amazed. The show received rave reviews from people of different age groups, professions, and nationalities. The Divine Performing Arts' tour performances have caused a sensation around the world, inspiring a resurgence of interest in traditional Chinese culture. While the CCP has been promoting atheism, focusing on "Party culture," it used despicable means to attempt to repress Divine Performing Arts' shows, but has been repeatedly defeated.
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When Divine Performing Arts toured countries in Europe, the troupe received rave reviews from the audience. The CCP attempted to stop the audience from attending the shows by means of harassing the sponsors of the shows, flooding and paralyzing ticket hotlines, instigating overseas students to interrupt and other indecent means. Many people of insight have condemned the CCP's unreasonable acts. Later, the CCP once again used rogue means to attempt to prevent people in the Asia-Pacific region from attending the shows that showcase authentic traditional Chinese culture.
On February 7, 2007, Coex Theatre in Korea signed a contract with NTDTV Korea to provide the venue for Divine Performing Arts' show. On March 14, however, Coex suddenly canceled the contract. NTDTV Korea believed that the theater canceled the contract because of pressure from the Chinese Embassy and decided to sue. In the verdict issued on the morning of April 20, the Seoul Central Court judge found all the arguments of the Coex Theater invalid. The performances would be staged on April 24 to 25 as scheduled. The Korean people had been looking forward to seeing the shows and the tickets were sold out quite soon.
The night before the show in Sydney, Australia, ABC TV-Lateline program reported that the CCP had exerted pressure on some people, trying to keep them from going to the show. Mr. Ian Cohen, spokesman for the Green Party, published a media release entitled, "Chinese Government Bullying Will Not Stop Green MP's Attendance." He said, "Tonight's show will be an event not to be missed. The overreaction of the Chinese Government officials begs the question--what have they got to hide? I'm even more firm to attend the show."
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Mr. Ian Cohen, spokesman for the Green Party detests the CCP's way of doing things |
On April 5, New Zealand's Green Party MP and spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Keith Locke wrote a letter to the sponsor of Divine Performing Arts to congratulate them on the upcoming show in Auckland and condemn the interference by the CCP. MP Locke wished Divine Performing Arts great success in Auckland and hoped that they would be free from outside interference. MP Locke was strongly against the pressure that the Chinese Consulate had exerted on the local community leaders to stop them from watching an art performance.
According to the Television New Zealand's (TVNZ) evening news report on April 5, 2007, the Chinese Consulate in Auckland made phone calls to New Zealand officials to warn them not to watch the Chinese culture performances by Divine Performing Arts. Dozens of dignitaries, who had planned to watch the performance, received similar phone calls. They said that they felt great pressure but still went ahead to see the show as they had planned. The report said that the show interprets 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture, but the Communist Party went so far as to attempt to spoil the show. The report also said that Chinese students have been told if they are photographed at the event they will not be allowed back in their home country.
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Before the performances by Divine Performing Arts, the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand exerted pressure on seven city mayors in the greater Auckland region via telephone and suggested that they not watch the show. This incident caught the attention of many local media. The New Zealand Herald carried two letters from readers on April 7 condemning the CCP's interference with residents of a democratic country's attendance at a cultural performance. After New Zealand's mainstream media exposed the CCP's interference, reading the reports, many Auckland citizens came to see the show. Staff at the performance indicated that the CCP's interference actually played the role of advertising for the troupe.
Conclusion
China's 5,000 years of civilization is the authentic culture that heavenly beings imparted to human beings. Divine Performing Arts showcased the authentic Chinese classical dances and other arts, a consummate manifestation of purely truthful, kind and beautiful divinely-imparted culture. The performances delivered rich connotations of belief in gods and Buddhas, and the unity of Heaven and man, and also carried forward the brilliance of human nature and value of life. In the past few decades, the wicked CCP has denied ancient Chinese culture, undermined its principles, morality and civilization that the divine beings imparted to men, and brought about an unprecedented cultural catastrophe to the Chinese nation.
Divine Performing Arts' global tour has created an unprecedented upsurge of Chinese dance around the world, awakened pure truthfulness and kindness and peace in the depth of people's souls, and will lead the world toward a new and beautiful future. Just as Pingtung County Magistrate Tsao Chi-hung said excitedly after watching the performance by Divine Performing Arts, "I am so fortunately to attend the show. Being able to see such a high standard of performance that depicts loyalty and filial piety, worship of Heaven and belief in gods in Chinese culture is truly most memorable."
