Taipei, Taiwan: People from All Walks of Life Express Praise and Appreciation for Divine Performing Arts (Photos)
A comprehensive report by Li Huirong, Minghui/Clearwisdom reporter
(Clearwisdom.net) Divine Performing Arts' tour performances have
caused a sensation in different places around the world. Its performances in
Taiwan aroused the same enthusiastic response from the audience. The audience
was immersed in the atmosphere created by the performers and the swift, skillful
flow of the program. Rainy weather on April 8 in Taipei could not dampen the people's enthusiasm,
and there was a full house for each performance. The three performances in
Taipei drew attendees from the arts, politicians, those from the financial
world, and education. Dignitaries included former Vice Premier of the Executive
Branch Yuan Yeh Chu-lan, President of the National Taiwan University of Arts
Huang Guang-Nan, President of the National Taiwan University Lee Si-Chen, artist
and critic Ho Huai-shuo and others. Former Vice Premier of the Executive Branch
Yuan and Mayor of Kaohsiung Yeh Chu-lan comes to watch the performance
President of the National Taiwan University
of Arts Huang Guang-Nan
Artist and critic Ho Huai-shuo
Du Chung-Gao: Qi Xiaochun's Erhu performance is superb Famous calligrapher and associate professor in the Department of Chinese
Language at the National Taiwan Normal University Du Chung-Gao said after
watching the Divine Performing Arts performance that he wanted to listen to Qi
Xiaochun's Erhu solo once again. He said, "I'm very interested in the Erhu
and have listened to many Erhu performances, but Qi Xiaochu's performance was
the best. It was harmoniously and seamlessly combined inner spirit, including
her expression while performing and her movements of pulling the bow."
"A Dunhuang Dream" personalized the stone sculptured Buddhas' Statues
in Dunhuang. In a dream, the sculptor entered a Buddhas' Paradise and saw
Buddhas. He then sculpted the image of those Buddhas in the human world. Famous calligrapher and associate professor in the Department
of Chinese Language at the National Taiwan Normal University Du Chung-Gao Gu Naichun repeated praised "A Dunhuang Dream" Head of the Department of Drama at the National Taiwan
University of Arts Gu Nai-chun commends "A Dunhuang Dream" Gu Nai-chun, Head of the Department of Drama at the National Taiwan
University of Arts, who taught renowned Chinese director Ang Lee and Hou Hsiao-hsian,
watched the performance on April 8. He said that the dance "A Dunhuang
Dream" was well-conceived and very creative, and it opened up the
audience's imagination. The story-telling through dance was quite moving. Male dancers' performances "Herding on the Mongolia Plains" and
"Rainbow" combined the forms of traditional Chinese dancing and
ballet, presenting a new style for the audience. The traditional tale of Yue Fei's mother tattooing the words "Jing Zhong
Bao Guo", "Repaying the Country with Great Loyalty" on his back
was conveyed visually through dance, expanding the original story with modern
technique and methods, leaving a deep impression on the audience. Lai Dong-ming: Divine Performing Arts performers' smiles speak volumes Taiwan's "godfather of advertising" Lai Dong-ming watched the
second show, and the performers' smiles left a deep impression on him. He said
that the performers' wonderful smiles made the audience feel the performance
personally and deeply. He talked about how a smile is the easiest way to reach
one's audience, and the performers' heartfelt smiles were marvelous. Taiwan's veteran advertiser Lai Dong-ming Mr. Lai also complimented the costumes and commented on the amazing
"Bowl Dance." He praised the performers synchronization and skill. Mr.
Lai pointed out that each dance had a specific subject matter, and the message
they wanted to convey was very clear. Chang-Chi: Performances were breathtaking Taiwan veteran actress Chang Chi said after watching the performance by the
Divine Performing Arts that she has been engaging in stage work for 43 years,
and this was one of the finest she has witnessed. The performance highlighted
mankind's artistic wisdom, and she saw the virtues of loyalty, filial piety and
righteousness in the performance. She expressed her joy at seeing these
descendants of the traditional Chinese culture perform. Veteran actress Chang Chi Chang Chi became well-known across Taiwan with a song named "Bridge for
Lovers," in the program "Gathering of Stars". She said that she
has loved dancing from the time when she was just a child. The "Bowl
Dance" and "Herding on the Mongolia Plains" were especially
enchanting to her. After watching "The Ladies of Manchu Court", Chang Chi said that
it was unbelievable how the dancers could perform so exquisitely while wearing
flowerpot shoes. She said that she had also worn such shoes when she played a
role as a Manchu Lady in a film. It was not easy to stand steadily because the
flowerpot shoes are so high off the ground, and all of one's weight is on a
small area. The dancers' kicks required superb skill. She said that the slow motion dance is more difficult to perform, requiring
the dancers to perform carefully and slowly, and walk gingerly. At that time,
she said that she could feel her mind and breath follow the beat of the music,
not daring to do anything that might disrupt the dancers' concentration. While watching "Herding on the Mongolia Plains," Chang Chi was
delighted by the dancers when they did the movements of dismounting and
galloping on horseback. Chang Chi said that she admired the dancers' shoes, as each pair of shoes
and costumes are consistent with the nationality represented. She could see
the costumes were put together with great care and precision. The colors were
resplendent, and the musical quality was also very good. Yang Jiansheng's alto
performance was haunting. Chang Chi said that she could see that the dance coach must have put in a
great deal of effort for these dancers from North America to be in sync so
well with the music. She also complimented the dance team's cohesion and musical arrangement. It
was really rare to see. Both Chinese and Western audience members could enjoy
the inner meaning of what they performed. She said that it was worth promoting
to all of her friends, as there was something for the whole family. Chang Chi wanted to thank New Tang Dynasty Television for presenting the
precious Chinese culture to the whole world. She wished Divine Performing Arts
the best in spreading beautiful things to the whole world and helping people
understand the virtues of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. Ni Yan-yuan: Divine Performing Arts redefined aesthetic beauty Associate professor of the Ming Chuan University and editor-in-chief of China
Times Ni Yan-yuan said after watching the Divine Performing Arts' performance
that interpreting historical stories such as Yue Fei and Hua Mulan in the form
of dance preserves inherent tradition while adding new elements of art. This
original approach allows people to enjoy the beauty of these stories from a
different angle. Associate professor of the Ming Chuan University and
editor-in-chief of China Times Ni Yan-yuan and his son watch two performances by
the Divine Performing Arts in Taipei Ni Yan-yuan said that the performance has three unique characteristics: 1. Stories such as Hua Mulan are quite familiar to us. I first saw it in the
1940's. It is wonderful to see such traditional performances today on stage. 2. The backdrop is presented with three-dimensional moving images, which
accompany the story. This is a very good and creative approach. 3. The performance combines traditional Chinese dance and Western ballet, and
it is done very well. The effect was truly beautiful. Mr. Ni was particularly impressed by the artistic conception of two
performances, "A Dunhuang Dream" and "Resounding Drum." He
said, "Thousands of Buddhas in Dunhuang harmonized with art, dance and
music--the effect is so touching. The author really put much effort on designing
it. I'm quite sure about that." As for "Resounding Drum," he
complimented the performance's embodiment of creativity and vitality. Mr. Ni said that the stories of Yue Fei and Hua Mulan are seldom mentioned in
mainland China and Taiwan anymore, but the themes of loyalty and filial piety
presented by these two historical figures are worthy of everyone's attention.
Divine Performing Arts preserves these traditions and presents them in a new
way. Renowned singers Jiang Min, Yang Jiansheng, Guan Guimin and Bai Xue performed
"Why Refuses?" "Tiananmen Square, Please Tell Me,"
"Finding the Truth" and "Who I Am" respectively. Mr. Ni
thought that some messages of Falun Gong were conveyed through the songs, and
they were done quite well. Mr. Ni Yanyuan said that he was surprised that Divine Performing Arts is from
the United States, because they have displayed such a deep understanding of
Chinese culture, and their performances are so good. They have displayed a very
good understanding of classical Chinese dance.
Chinese version available at
http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2007/4/9/152461.html
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