CHICAGO—Divine Performing Arts presented its first Chinese New Year Spectacular show at the Arie Crown Theatre in Chicago on January 25. The company has been at the forefront of a renaissance of traditional Chinese culture. Audience members Joy Ramza-Wood and Ernest Abdullah, found themselves drawn to the ancient stories and universal values portrayed.
Ramza-Wood, a high school computer lab director, and her brother, Ernest Abdullah, a retired bus driver, sat peacefully in their seats during the show's intermission. Joy shared that she came to the show because of a flyer that "came to me through the mail and it was such a beautiful flyer. I was intrigued when it said 5,000 years of history. I am a history buff. I love it. I guess the pictures and [the desire of] learning more about Asian culture is really what brought me out here." When asked what she had learned so far, Joy said "Well, … Dafa. Also one of the things that intrigues me is the discipline that I see in the dance. It sets such a….tranquil tone. This is just so very soothing and comfortable..so much like nature,..like floating, you're floating. This is the first time I have been exposed to anything like this. So this is really new to me."
Abdullah agreed that he too had never seen anything like the Chinese New Year Spectacular. "Each dance is different. I am just overwhelmed. It's very educational. Some of the poses they make I've seen in still figures and it's amazing to see it live."
Earnest's favorite is the Mongolian Bowl Dance while Joy liked another performance depicting events in the present. "I can relate to the prison scene .. the Asian woman still has hope and the women encourage one another and I am very inspired by that. There is something within them that keeps them getting back up and just saying 'No, you can't keep me down because there is something bigger that lives in me.'"
The Divine Performing Arts Chinese Spectacular shows will continue at the Arie Crown Theatre for two more performances through Jan. 26. Beginning on Jan. 30, the NTDTV Chinese New Year Splerndor will play for 15 shows at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Divine Performing Arts performances. For dates and times of their world tour visit: http://www.divineperformingarts.com/sy/ticket_info.
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