(Clearwisdom.net) Divine Performing Arts (DPA)--the world's premier Chinese dance and music company--gave another awe-inspiring performance at the John Bassett Theatre in Toronto on January 11, 2009.

Among the many distinguished guests in the audience was Dr. Mary Jane Warner, author and professor in the Department of Dance at York University in Toronto, Canada.

At York, she taught courses in dance history, notation, repertory, movement analysis, ballet, and dance education. She also served as York's Chair of the Dance Department, director of the Graduate Program in Dance, and associate dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts. In addition, she is an authority on Canadian dance and the founder of the historical dance group, Entrée à Dance.

Dr. Mary Jane Warner, author and professor in the Department of Dance at York University in Toronto, Canada

"Everyone Is Bound to Enjoy the Show!"

Dr. Warner told a reporter during intermission that even though she had not done any formal research into traditional Chinese dance, she was still able to see "a sense of harmony, peace, community, and dancers working together" in every performance. "Although you see a dancer in the spotlight for a while--like a soloist--for the most part, it's everyone working together for the good of everyone, which is kind of a nice feeling to see in the dances."

She continued, "So, you know although there are principal dancers in the show, they really don't stand out in that way. I think that's quite refreshing to see all the dancers working in collaboration and everyone working to make the show as successful as possible ... Everyone is bound to enjoy the show, because the dancers are quite wonderful!"

"The Dancers Are Just So Charming!"

When a reporter asked her if having a working knowledge of Chinese traditional dance was a prerequisite to appreciating the show, she replied, "I don't' think you have to know anything about Chinese dance--at all--to enjoy this performance because I think the dancers themselves are just so charming in the way that they move and perform."

Professor Warner commented on the interplay of music and the dance in the show, saying, "I like the combination and I'm getting more and more used to Chinese music. You know, the first time you hear Chinese music it's quite surprising, particularly the Beijing Opera. Now it feels very comfortable and very natural, and quite beautiful in its own way."

"I Think the Backdrops Are Quite Amazing!"

She added, "So to me, coming to see a Chinese dance performance is not something unusual or strange. I sometimes go to a ballet, I sometimes go to a modern dance show, and I go to African dance shows, too. I really don't care what kind of dance I'm watching, as long as the quality is good --that's the main thing--and of course the quality of the show here is just outstanding so it's been a wonderful evening so far and I expect that the second-half will be at least as good, if not better."

She particularly enjoyed the backdrops saying they were "amazing!" "I have no idea how you do them with different people moving on them. That's technology that I haven't seen anywhere except in these performances, so it's very interesting to see that."

"I Thought the Costumes Were All Stunning!"

When discussing the dancer's costumes, Dr. Warner said that she thought the "costumes were all stunning!" "You think you've seen the most beautiful costume [in a particular dance] and then another one comes along! The seamstresses must be amazing to do these. They're very different from last year's show. You have so many different pieces; there must be a huge repertoire. I suppose they're choreographing new pieces each year, so the repertoire just keeps expanding."

The reporter asked Professor Warner if she thought it was easy to understand the story or legend behind the dances. "I would say that in any dance form you will never get every aspect of the story. That kind of detail you will never get in dance. But in any dance you will get a sense of what's going on."

She concluded by saying, "Someone watching the show without reading the program might not understand every aspect of the show, but they will certainly get the general feel..."