ANTWERP, Belgium—The curtain at the Stadsschouwburg, located in downtown Antwerp, opened for the last time on Feb. 25, for the historic and internationally acclaimed performance by the New York-based Divine Performing Arts (DPA) Company.
For the second time in two years, DPA set foot on this important European city, where economic and culture are equally valued, hoping to share Chinese culture and that country’s 5,000-year-old history with Belgium’s audiences.
Ms. Luyckx, an event organizer and her 82-year-old mother, Dedee Luyckx, were in the audience, wanting to learn more about a culture that flourished until the Chinese communist regime came to power.
As the Luyckx’s are spiritually oriented, the show gave them everything they hoped for.
“Unbelievable! One hears that one needs to meet a spiritual way to really know what the message is. We are so glad, because we try to find such ways,” Ms. Luyckx said.
Both mother and daughter were drawn by the peace and spirituality of the artists, and the mother said that they were impressed by the message of “reincarnation. We believe in it and we think it is important [to be peaceful], love, and help others.”
Although they had not been exposed to Chinese culture in the past, they “read a lot of books. We meditate also, so we can understand what is going on,” said Ms. Luyckx.
Mother Lulyckx added, “We know that the world is too busy to change. It is so important to give such a message to the world, because I know this show is [performed] not only in Belgium. They [the artists] will travel throughout the world with this message.
“I try to bring people a lot of joy and [hope] [so] that they believe in something good,” Ms. Lulyckx shared.
Mother Lulyckx was a stay-at-home mom, “I have many children. Sixteen. With grandchildren and three greatgrandchildren.”
Before leaving the theatre, Ms. Lulyckx said, “She always stayed at home, but she is a very spiritual person, and it is unusual for someone her age [to be this spry]. She is 82. Her spiritual way and life make her seem much younger.”
Young Actor: ‘It is quite inspiring’
A young actor who wished to remain anonymous wanted to share his impressions and thoughts before leaving the theater.
“The show is great. It is quite inspiring. There are lots of stories like the Monkey King [The Monkey King Triumphs]. I did not know about this [ Chinese culture and the persecution of Falun Gong]. I learned a bit more about this. I try to learn all that it [the scenes] symbolized and to understand how the culture works and how it evolved. Actually, it is a very interesting show.”
He added, “I studied for a few years in a traditional Gongfu school. ... I am really enjoying the show. It is very nice.”
Like most in the audience, he did not really have a preference for a specific scene, “There were other scenes I liked. I like the spiritual events in prison. It is also very symbolic of what happened in China, and how things suddenly changed with the arrival of communism—the impact it has had on the culture. It is very nice because it is a big message for the hope for the people who are persecuted and always threatened by the regime. It is nice, it is very nice.”
For more information please visit DivinePerformingArts.org
