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Washington DC: High Praise for Divine Performing Arts' Debut in Nation's Capital

February 13, 2009 |   By a Clearwisdom reporter

(Clearwisdom.net) At an exclusive debut of Divine Performing Arts (DPA) in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, Washington's elite responded with high praise after viewing the "invitation only" performance. Ms. Brewer, America's Heroes of Freedom [AHOF] president and founder, and her colleague Ms. Mauer more than appreciated DPA "beautiful" debut at the Kennedy Center Opera House on Feb. 10, especially since the show was given in honor of U.S Veterans, a cause dear to her heart.

"I have to tell you, it was healing," she expressed. AHOF has a mission to honor, heal, and give aid to those who serve to protect the freedom of America, such as the armed services, civil servants, emergency services and volunteers.

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Ms. Brewer, America's Heroes of Freedom [AHOF] president and founder. (NTDTV)

"I am so glad that we had our wounded military here tonight. What a beautiful expression to show our wounded military the peace and tranquility we all experienced tonight. It was beautiful... [The show] was very, very healing. It will be good for them."

The mission of Divine Performing Arts is to rediscover and renew the true ancient heritage of China, lost to the ravages of communist rule. Inspired by the ancient legends and long-held values of traditional Chinese culture, the show features highly acclaimed performers, gorgeous costumes, spectacular backdrops and a live orchestra.

"I love the excellence of the dance and the cultural arts, and I loved the message," Mrs. Brewer said. "... the message of peace I thought was very tranquil. I left with a deep sense of spiritual understanding and just ... the excellence that was done. The costumes were magnificent."

She continued, "I love the cultural arts, obviously. This was magnificent, I enjoyed it...It was a beautiful display of performance and excellence. I loved that it was showing unity and that when there is unity, there is power; when there is forgiveness, there is grace and mercy. I believe that it showed that in the most beautiful way."

One segment, Heaven Awaits Us Despite Persecution, which bespeaks of a longstanding Chinese belief that good is rewarded and evil punished, particularly touched her. This performance depicts the tragic reality unfolding in China today, of an innocent family's suffering when the father is persecuted for practicing Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline banned in China.

"We're all mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, and I think that every one of us strives for that peace, and that's what I loved. I loved that message."

"I believe that it's a culture reaching out to all the other cultures. It showed the purity and the traditions of many, many years ago. And I believe that it was very similar to what I believe in God and a higher power," Mrs. Brewer emphasized.

Ms. Mauer, director of a non profit organization for wounded military, felt that the "absolute elegance" of the performers was "just incredible" and that the show was "very tender, very touching."

"There is a tranquility about this performance. There is a spirit of excellence in what the performers do. I think that's what was conveyed to the audience tonight, that absolute feeling of--you know, I watched people around me and just everyone seemed to be very calm and very peaceful, so I believe it has a great message."

Ms. Mauer said that DPA's show contained some poignant reminders of her personal experiences of living under communism. "I've lived in Europe when it was under communist control, when it was East and West Europe. There was much stress, much anxiety. It feels to me that we're in that time again. This (performance) shows the sides of good and evil. I believe that good always prevails. Our hearts go out to anyone who lives under Communism.

"I've traveled and lived all over the world. I think we're all searching for what we saw here tonight.

This is a message of peace to me. I felt like it was something that I could see again," she concluded.

Ms. Rosen joined the packed audience at the John F. Kennedy Center Opera House, and was highly impressed by the DPA performances. "It was overwhelming! It was enthralling and colorful!" she exclaimed. She particularly enjoyed the positive message of Divine Performing Arts. "I think that in our society, people are overwhelmed by negativity. And we come to something like this, and it's enlightening, and it's light, and it's beautiful."

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Ms. Rosen with a friend (The Epoch Times)

Ms. Rosen, a counselor from Pennsylvania, went on to add that more people needed to see DPA shows. "We need things like this in our society," she said. "People sit in front of the TV, and they watch negativity, and they watch people being hurt, and it's just overwhelming."

Reflecting on the performances that told the story of the resilience of Falun Gong in the face of persecution, Ms. Rosen said, "They have a belief in something more powerful than themselves."

Dr. Dutt, a physicist, joined the exclusive opening-night audience, in a long, standing ovation for DPA. He expressed his admiration for DPA's ability to present China's cultural history. "They really capture the essence of China and its history, and then bring it to life across the world! And they are able to take on tough political issues, where they stood up to say, it's a dictatorship, or communist form of dictatorship, yet [we] are able to challenge that, and say that we have a culture. And that's what they brought to life, culture!"

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Dr. Dutt (L) with a friend at the Kennedy Center (The Epoch Times)

Dr. Dutt went on to add that he was profoundly moved by many aspects of the show. "One was the opera singers, I thought that the words they were translating really touched me. And then the one where the woman is in prison [Dignity and Compassion], and the man has a dream, and he has enlightenment because of the dream, that is really victory of good over evil!"

The piece, Dignity and Compassion, is set in a prison in China, where a Falun Dafa prisoner of conscience is cruelly tortured to the brink of death. One of her tormentors, a policeman, falls into a deep sleep, and is visited by an other-worldly vision of guardian deities seeking to claim his life in retribution for his terrible acts. The persecuted practitioner appears as a Bodhisattva, and is moved by compassion to spare the man's life. Upon awakening, the policeman is filled with remorse, and immediately sets the practitioner free, asking for her forgiveness.

"Ultimately there is hope, and good wins over evil!" concluded Dr. Dutt.