Dec 27, 2008
CHICAGO--Warm greetings from the Chief of Staff of President-elect Barack
Obama, U.S. Senator Richard Durbin and other Illinois elected officials, and the
head of the Taipei Cultural and Economic Office welcomed Divine Performing Arts
(DPA) to Chicago for three shows.
Congressman Rahm Emanuel of Illinois's 5th District has been named as Barack
Obama's Chief of Staff. Mr. Emanuel's greeting focused on the content of DPA's
performance: "[DPA] is a display of classical themes, divinely-inspired
cultural traditions, and such principles as freedom, peace, virtue, and justice
in the styles of Chinese classical music, dance and costume."
Senator Richard J. Durbin commented on the significance of DPA's performances:
"Through its widely attended world tour, the DPA has helped renew some lost
Chinese arts, which have been forgotten or ignored since the Chinese Cultural
Revolution.
"The DPA's performances highlight the beauty and the value of China's
artistic tradition and heritage, and the continued success of the World Tour
further emphasizes the value of celebrating these traditions amidst changing
times."
Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson of Illinois's 11th District said, "I
commend The Divine Performing Arts on its glorious portrayal of the pure
excellence and grandeur of classical Chinese dance and music. Its divine message
is inspired by myths, legends, and the divine beauty of 5000 years of
traditional Chinese Culture.
"Inspired by the quest to renew a largely lost authentic cultural tradition
and heritage, the show features an elite company of dancers, and singers in an
awesome, beautiful and exhilarating form of expression."
Ms. Lisa Madigan, the Attorney General for the State of Illinois, said,
"The Divine Performing Arts will grace the Civic Opera House with the best
of Chinese music and dance, bringing to life the myths, legends and beauty of
the Chinese culture."
Director-General Thomas T.S. Cheng of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in
Chicago took note in his letter of greeting that DPA shows are appearing
throughout the Midwest, mentioning the performances in Chicago, Detroit,
Indianapolis, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Minneapolis, and Madison, Wisconsin.
Director-General Cheng celebrated how Divine Performing Arts bring East and West
together: "Chinese and Western people come together in one place,
appreciate together DPA depicting the Chinese traditional culture and arts and
presenting Chinese classic dance, the beauty of Chinese music, and the virtue
and compassion of the Chinese people. It is a precious cultural feast."
The enthusiastic comments of these officials were echoed in greeting letters
from several other U.S. Congressmen, the Illinois Secretary of State Jesse
White, President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners Todd Stroger, Jr.,
several Illinois State Representatives and Senators and mayors for several
Illinois cities.
In Chicago, even Mother Nature seemed to join in welcoming DPA, as the
temperatures rose 40 degrees in 24 hours time, reaching the 60s on Saturday and
breaking the grip on Chicago of what had been an unusually cold and snowy
December.
http://en.epochtimes.com/n2/content/view/9209/
Category: Shen Yun Performing Arts
