STOCKHOLM, Sweden—An MP said that she appreciated the philosophical aspect of the Chinese Spectacular.
Hillevi Larsson, Malmö MP for the Social Democrats came to the fourth show of the Spectacular at the Circus Theater in Stockholm on Wednesday night.
She said that she appreciated the wide variety of themes addressed by the show, from the ancient to the present, from the deeply philosophical to the purely ascetic.
"On an emotional plane one takes in those questions," she said. "You felt very harmonious in mind."
Chinese Embassies in various regions have attempted to disrupt the performances of the Divine Performing Arts dance company as they have toured Europe.
"It is probably the scene in the prison with guards who beat Falun Gong practitioners that makes the embassy react," Ms Larsson said.
However she added that it was a pertinent point, where one cannot describe modern China without touching on the fact that it was one of the world's worst dictatorships.
Ms Larsson was one of 25 MPs who signed a greeting to the Chinese Spectacular and spoke out against the Chinese embassy's attempt to block the show (See copy of the greeting below).
She said as a closing point that she felt the dancers were very pure. "As far as I understand they lead a pure life," she said. "I hear that the hotel didn't have any problems with them (they are about 150 people in the group) since they neither smoke nor drink, and everyone is very calm.
"That also permeates what they do on stage too."
Text of Greeting
Compliments from Members of the Swedish Government
Our warm compliments to the audience and to the artists group, Shen Yun Performing Arts that are guests in Sweden for the very first time!
Signatories of Greeting
Eva Selin Lindgren (c); Cecilia Wigström (fp); Hans Linde (v); Max Andersson (mp); Lennart Sacredeus (kd); Christer Winbäck (fp); Hillevi Larsson (s); Margareta Cederfelt (m); Sofia Arkelsten (m); Jan Lindholm (mp); Patrik Forslund (m); Betty Malmberg (m); Hans Rothenberg (m); Birgitta Sellén (c); Thomas Nihlén (mp); Lars Johansson (s); Peter Rådberg (mp); Lars Lindén (kd); Per Lodenius (c); Ulla Löfgren (m); Irene Oskarsson (kd); Mats Pertoft (mp); Siv Holma (v); Krister Hammarbergh (m); Emma Henriksson (kd);
The group that is our guests represents an important part of the Chinese cultural heritage and the Chinese people. Through dance, sang and outstanding choreography, we get to experience, in just a few hours, some of China's 5,000-year history. This cultural exchange enriches the Swedes' perception of the China.
Unfortunately, the Chinese in the middle kingdom are not permitted to experience the beauty of Shen Yun. Not even we in Sweden would be permitted if the Chinese embassy had the right to decide. But we live in a country with freedom of expression, that cherishes human rights, and we hope our country shall cherish these values in all future.
We, members of the Swedish Parliament, naturally disaffiliate ourselves from the Chinese embassy's attempt to undermine our freedom of expression.
Next Shows
On Sunday 30th and Monday 31st March the Chinese Spectacular will be in Finnish Tampere and on April 3rd they are back in Stockholm for an extra performance at Circus Theatrer.
For information about upcoming Divine Performing Arts shows, please visit: www.DivinePerformingArts.org.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of the Chinese Spectacular. For our complete coverage please visit: http://en.epochtimes.com/features/dpa2008/
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