SARASOTA, FL.—Sarasota is hosting Divine Performing Arts for two performances at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. Monday’s opening night performance marks the DPA’s first appearance in this southwest Florida town.
Sarasota is a choice winter destination known for its balmy climate, tropical vegetation and 3 white sand beaches, Longboat, Lido and Siesta. The beaches are unusually rich in sea shells. By night or by day, there are a wealth of experiences to be found here.
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is on Sarasota Bay. Its unique seashell design and lavender and purple color scheme provide a vibrant contrast to the ever-changing skyline above the water’s azure edge.
This year marks the theater’s most ambitious season ever and its first time for hosting DPA. The collaboration provides a unique niche for both.
At Monday night’s show Mr. Lourey, a retired accountant, said how much he was enjoying the show, particularly “the colors, costumes and the music.” He and his wife visited Yunan Province this spring. He said DPA’s show was refreshingly different.
Mr. Hughes and his wife shared their impressions about the show. “Pretty … elegant … the costumes are great!” Both chose the same favorites, “Welcoming Spring,” and “Udumbara.” Both work in customer service: Nigel for a hotel, and Risa for an airline.
Mrs. Hughes was going to Cleveland to visit her parents, but circumstances forced her to postpone her trip. Mr. Hughes knew about the DPA show and suggested they attend a performance.
Dr. Luay is visiting from Qatar, and is attending a medical conference in Miami. What impressed him most about the show was how flawlessly the dancers executed their moves: “the performance was very good … the dancers did not make any mistakes in doing their art.”
Mr. Klasinski came to the show with his mother, at her urging. Referring to the dancers, he said, “Chinese bodies were made for this,” referring to their level of technical and artistic achievement, which he said is “truly from the Lord God.”
Karen and Melissa are sisters who have a background in ballet. Karen, who works at a local hotel, found out about the performance from hotel guests.
She said “the hope that was offered was delivered...[they] had not even imagined it would be so spiritual…” Melissa complimented the synchronization of the dancers, saying it “was amazing, it seemed like just watching one dancer.”
In other performances, it usually the case that one’s eye is always drawn to at least one person that is off, but she said that this was absolutely not the case here, and the dancers were flawless.
Please see http://www.DivinePerformingArts.org for more information.
