Divine Performing Arts Touring Company Debuts in Florida and Praised by Political Leaders (Photos)

By Chen Zhenghong

(Clearwisdom.net) On December 19, 2008, Divine Performing Arts (DPA) Touring Company presented its opening show in the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The audience gave warm applause in response to the performance.

DPA New York Company, DPA International Company, and DPA Touring Company started their 2009 world tour on December 19, 2008 by performing in Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Fort Lauderdale, respectively. Last year, DPA held 215 shows in 66 cities around the world. Since DPA continues to receive invitations from around the globe, it is estimated that DPA will hold 300 shows this year in 80 cities worldwide.

Fort Lauderdale is located in southern Florida and this is the second year DPA has performed there. Local media including Sun Sentinel, The Miami Herald, WLRN-TV and WSFL carried news of the DPA show.

Political leaders praise DPA show

Before the show, Florida political leaders wrote letters and issued proclamations to DPA and local hosting organizations to show appreciation for their efforts in promoting Chinese traditional culture, music and dance. Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Mayor Jim Naugle of Fort Lauderdale, Mayor Richard Kaplan of Lauderhill, Mayor Matti Herrera Bower of Miami Beach, Mayor Rae Carole Armstrong of Plantation, and Mayor Tom Truex of Davie expressed their support and welcomed DPA.

Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart expressed his appreciation to the DPA Touring Company for coming to Florida and praised DPA's artistic performance and mission in aspiring to preserve and renew a largely-lost cultural tradition while celebrating human dignity and positive values.

Mayor Jim Naugle and the City Council of Fort Lauderdale proclaimed December 19 and 20 as Divine Performing Arts Day and praised DPA for bringing meaningful and unforgettable cultural programs to the city. The Miami Herald reported that Mayor Naugle was the subject of pressure and intimidation from the Chinese Consulate. However, he had watched last year's show and decided to issue a proclamation to this year's DPA show.

Last year's audience looks forward to DPA's return

DPA has come to Fort Lauderdale for the second year in a row. The news was spread by word of mouth among audience members of last year's show and their friends. The staff of the ticketing office said, "Many people watched last year's show and praised it. They bought tickets again and brought their friends to watch this time."

Some tourists from Chicago, New York, and New Jersey said that they had seen the DPA show in their hometowns. They praised it as beautiful and wished to see it again this year.

Nilsa Rosario, manager of a pharmaceutical company, watched the DPA show last year. He praised it: "Beautiful, amazing, spectacular, fabulous. Everyone should watch the show. I'll ask everyone to watch it. I cannot wait."

DPA Touring Company has three shows on December 19 and 20 in Fort Lauderdale. For ticket information, contact:

Broward Center for the Performing Arts
201 SW Fifth Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312

Box office: 954-462-0222

Online: www.browardcenter.org.

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2008/12/20/191951.html

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