Epoch Times Staff, Jan. 24, 2009

Shimmering gold stage curtains, hailed as the largest in the world, opened on a full house and closed to a standing ovation at the Divine Performing Arts' Chinese New Year Splendor on Saturday.

That response, at New York City's world-renowned Radio City Music Hall, reflected the show's aim to present Chinese culture as it was meant to be, a study in grace, fluidity, and balance.

Ms. Lad, who was within that enthusiastic audience, had difficulty expressing exactly how she felt about the performance.

"I guess I've seen bits and pieces that are similar [shows] to this, but I've never seen a spectacle this big and ... I don't know what to say. I'm at a loss for words."

The guiding mission of Divine Performing Arts is to rediscover and renew humanity's true, rightful cultural heritage. The company thus creates and performs works that center upon the true, divinely bestowed culture of humankind, and seeks to provide an experience of consummate beauty and goodness.

"I loved the show about the spectacle and paid close attention to the movement of the dancers. It was really wonderful," Ms. Lad said. "I especially like the theme of the interconnectedness between the divine and the human being, and I particularly liked the symbolism."

Performances by leading solo musicians are an integral part of the Divine Performing Arts experience and the stirring tones of the erhu, a popular two-string Chinese violin, truly struck a chord.

"Surprisingly, even though all of the spectacle was wonderful, I loved the woman who played the erhu. The melody and the sultriness of that piece is just so moving to me. I really enjoyed it."

Ms. Lad had never attended a Chinese cultural performance before, but recognized a common thread between other cultural presentations.

"Well, I have seen it done in different cultures and I think it's a very common theatrical form in every culture. But each one has it's own distinct way it accomplishes it," she said.

The distinction that she pointed to for Divine Performing Arts was the depth and "unity of the performance."

"There is a lot of soul involved. That's what I'll say, that's what I felt."

Divine Performing Arts stages two more shows at Radio City on Sunday before continuing on with its 2009 world tour.

Source http://en.epochtimes.com/n2/content/view/10855/