The final performance of the U.S. Divine Performing Arts was staged at the Taipei International Convention Center on the night of April 17, 2007. Throughout the show, over three thousand constantly applauded warmly.
Indeed, the performances during the two days have brought a joyous wave of traditional Chinese culture to Taipei. After watching the performance, many people felt their souls had been fully cleansed. They left the theatre with smiles and joy.
After arriving in Taiwan on April 7, Divine Performing Arts performed in four major cities: Tainan, Taichung, Kaohsiung, and Taipei, attracting over thirty thousand.
On April 17, the last performance in Taipei still drew a packed house. Many celebrities, politicians, and renowned business people attended the live show.
A total of 16 consuls and heads of foreign affairs offices in Taipei, including those from Paraguay, Honduras, Finland, Malawi, and Belize, were also present at the show.
Everyone, Regardless of Origin or Age, Praises Divine Performing Arts Highly
Although the performance has ended in Taiwan, it has sent a new wave of Classical Chinese Culture throughout Taipei, embracing this capital city for a long time to come. The audience, regardless of region, political stand, profession or age, all highly acclaimed the Divine Performing Arts.
Those professionals specialized in stage performance, after witnessing this highly unique method of expression presented by the Divine Performing Arts, opened their imaginations. Those who specialized in education, after witnessing the Divine Performing Arts are working hard to spread and promote traditional Chinese culture, hoping that people from all walks of life in Taiwan can work together to restore the traditional Chinese culture.
Those who have been thinking about where lives came from and how to live their life, found the origin of life in the performance, and have gained a deeper understanding of the meaning of life.
Cecilia Koo, wife of former Chairman of the Board of Straits Exchange Foundation, and committee member of the China Women's Federation, was deeply moved after attending the performance on April 16. She wrote a letter to the organizer to express her deep feelings.
Ms. Koo wrote, "The performance of Divine Performing Arts has completely elaborated the value of arts appreciation; it also combines education with entertainment. The performance expresses the loyalty, filial piety, and morality in traditional Chinese culture, and also portrays harmonic and beautiful themes. The programs of Divine Performing Arts, besides being magnificent and glorious, all have profound meanings. The dance, drum and solo is either soft or energetic, allowing the audience to fully immerse themselves within."
The Pure and Meticulous Performance is Moving
After attending the last performance in Taipei, Ramon Diaz Pereira, Consul from Paraguay said, "My native language is Spanish and my English isn't very good. This performance is so beautiful. I can't find the appropriate wording to describe it." He said, "I have never watched any performance like this, dance, music and every piece of it is very enjoyable. 'Tiananmen Please Tell Me' is a lovely song, but it also makes me concerned about the human rights situation in China."
Wu Zhenji, the head of the Immigration Bureau said, "The entire performance is of superior quality. Recently Divine Performing Arts came to Taiwan and brought a current into Taiwan. The performance truly matches its name. The entire performance portrays the vast capacity of Chinese culture; it also can be a good reference for Taiwan, a country that is engaged in peacefully settling the new immigrants."
Tian Liyun, Goldenbell TV anchor said, "I have never seen such pure Chinese culture, or such a pure performance. Born in the US, these artists can express the essences of Chinese culture, which is especially amazing." Tian added, "From them you can sense the profound cultural momentum, it is truly difficult to find. I haven't seen such an art troupe and performance for a long time."
Mr. Wu Rongyi, former treasurer of the President's Office, now president of Taiwan Futures Exchange watched the show with his wife. Wu said the programs are very good. Mrs. Wu said next year she will bring her grandson to watch the show.
Secretary general of the World Overseas Chinese Association, General Hsieh Kuo-Shu and his wife, also came to watch the show. Natives of Guangdong Province, the Hsieh couple retreated from the mainland to Taiwan with the Kuomintang government over fifty years ago.
"I was extremely moved as soon as the show started. I feel that this is precisely what our ancestors have passed down to us." General Hsieh said.
As a veteran who joined the army at the age of seventeen, he was deeply touched by "The nobility of Yue Fei." He said: "General Yue Fei had his circumstances when he enlisted; I had a different historical background when I enlisted. I joined the army when I was only seventeen years old. My career was similar to that of General Yue."
Dances Exhibit Buddha's Compassion; Audience Detests Communist Regime's Suppression of Spiritual Beliefs
King-yuh Chang, former director of the Bureau of News, President of National Chengchi University, and current board chairman of the Foundation on International and Cross-Strait Studies, liked the dance program "To the Rightful Place" very much. He sincerely hoped everyone can respect others' beliefs. However, there exist such regimes that deprive their own people of the freedom of belief.
The former Chief Judge and Honorary Professor of National Taiwan University Su Jyun-hsyong felt that people in the legal community usually give others the impression of being somewhat solemn and cold; however, when using the form of art to convey the message of morality, the contrast of kindness and evil, it will balance the impersonal feeling of laws and regulations. He stressed that actually the ultimate purpose of the rules of law is also to guide people towards the right track of kindness.
Tsai-Hsing Chiu, board chairman of Chew's Culture Foundation and Curator of Hong-gah Museum is a pious lay-Buddhist. He felt the art performances are very different from other dances in terms of connotation; Buddha's gracious compassion and love is radiant in each program.
He felt it was a precious thing to make this the main theme of the entire show. Almost everyone is able to accept the content of the performances, said Chiu, the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong is absolutely inconceivable.
Su Tsing-feng, director of public affairs office of National Palace Museum, expressed his appreciation of the accommodation of different cultures in the performances. According to Su, the costumes, the dance and music composition were all very elegant; the producers and performing artists did a great job in presenting culture to a deeper extent and presenting art in a more exquisite manner. In Mr. Su's words, the performance is "a peerless pageantry, a sumptuous feast for the eyes."
In addition, Mr. Su felt the Divine Performing Arts performers are no ordinary artists. He felt a "sense of mission" when watching the show.
