MINNEAPOLIS—The audience gave Divine Performing Arts a warm reception on a frigid night, Feb. 3, as the Chinese New Year Spectacular played to an appreciative crowd on opening night at the Northrop Auditorium in Minneapolis.
“It was aesthetic pleasure!” said Ms. Slovesko, who is the business-customer representative for a large company. Ms. Slovesko said she had always been interested in Chinese culture but had never seen anything like this. “I am so happy that I came.”
“It was the dancers, the colors, and the movement. I really enjoyed the performance called Udumbara’s Bloom." In this number, the legendary Udumbara flower blossoms only once every 3,000 years. The bloom is said to herald the coming of a great, enlightened being.
“I really enjoyed the surprise of the dances. I especially enjoyed the Dance of the Yi.” The Yi, one of southern China’s largest ethnic groups, are known for their passion for music and dance. The Yi seize every occasion to dance out their feelings in everyday life.
“I do know what’s going on in China,” she said, referring to the ongoing persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China.
Ms. Linehan said that watching the Divine Performing Arts performances would benefit everyone. “I would definitely recommend this to all age groups. This is the beauty of it: The higher messages are something that everyone can understand and appreciate.
“We came for my birthday, and I’m so glad that we came. This is definitely something that we’ve been waiting for!” she said.
Divine Performing Arts (DPA) is the world’s premier Chinese dance and music company. Based in New York, it is a remarkable collaboration of leading dancers, musicians, and choreographers from around the world. The DPA’s rich repertory revives the authentic, 5,000-year-old artistic traditions of China, presenting its true cultural heritage as a gift to the world.
Please see DivinePerformingArts.org for more information.
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