Executive Director in Cosmetics Company: ‘It was so beautiful’

WASHINGTON—On an unusually warm February evening, Divine Performing Arts swept the stage at The John F. Kennedy Center Opera House. This first open-to-the public performance on Wednesday met a full house.

Ms. Mattis, who is an executive director for a high-profile cosmetics company, said that she greatly enjoyed seeing Divine Performing Arts for the first time.

“This is my first time seeing anything from the Chinese culture, and it was so beautiful,” she said.

“I think sometimes when you are an American, you are sheltered from the beauty of other cultures, and this performance just shows you what a beautiful country China is, kind of makes me want to go visit.”

Ms. Mattis said that seeing Divine Performing Arts left her with a message of hope. “I think it is a nice message. Of course there is the message of hope and the beauty of the choreography mixed with the vibrant colors, and then the symmetry of all the dancers when they were dancing, and the elegance.”

Commenting on the two performances that touch upon the unfolding tragedy of the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China, Ms. Mattis said, “This really makes you feel full of spirit and life when you leave and also brings a very subtle but poignant message about what is going on currently in China.

“I really appreciated this. It kind of makes you feel that we should all join hands and be one nation …That was my feeling when I left today. So I really appreciated that.”

Another audience member, Mr. Saupp, who works in advertising with one of the D.C. Newspapers, also enjoyed the show and said that the performances were “Incredibly exciting and interesting to watch.”

“And the costuming, I thought, was spectacular. That was very beautiful,” he said.

Mr. Saupp went on to add that although he has worked in advertising for many years, he had originally studied music education. In describing the musical aspects of Divine Performing Arts (DPA), he said, “It was very colorful and very powerful, especially the drums and the musical instruments.”

Classical Western orchestral instruments—strings, woodwind, brass, and percussion make up the foundation of the DPA orchestra. Incorporating traditional Chinese instruments, such as the bamboo flute, the erhu and the plucked-string pipa makes for the truly unique sound that audiences across the world have come to acclaim; the hallmark music of Divine Performing Arts.

Mr. Harb, who owns a marketing and advertising firm in Virginia, joined the appreciative audience at The Kennedy Center, and joined in praising Divine Performing Arts as well. “It was amazing!” he exclaimed. “It was everything I expected and more!”

He went on to say that the entire show was outstanding. “I was impressed with the whole thing. I loved it from beginning to end!”

Mr. Harb was impressed by the professionalism of the performers, but he was most touched by the erhu performance. “The erhu; It was beautiful. It was beautiful!”
 
  For more information, please see DivinePerformingArts.org