NEW YORK—Dr.Cassileth, author, researcher, plus founder and chair of a prominent medical center, and her husband, also a doctor, were thrilled to see the Divine Performing Arts show in New York’s Radio City Music Hall on Sunday Jan. 25.
Impressed by “the music, the dancing, ..the skill of the performers, the costumes,” Dr Cassileth said, “Everything is absolutely glorious.”
She particularly commented on the two contemporary pieces about the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China, saying almost more impressive than the artistry was “the denunciation of repression”.
“It was very, very well done, and I realized midway through that this performing company, which I thought was from China, could not be from China. It had to be from the United States.”
Dr Cassileth said the inclusion of the contemporary pieces had added weight to the show, heightening her experience of it.
“It is a statement against having religion being forbidden or having a spiritual life being subjected to political aims, and I just find that really very wonderful. I did not anticipate it, but it was a very nice surprise. The artistry and artists would have been sufficient, but that made it even more wonderful.”
The references to traditional Chinese culture in the show could be seen in a broader context she said, introducing her husband by way of the conversation.
“I very much like the portrayal of the ancient traditions and beliefs and cultural interactions, she said, “It’s lovely to see it and very important, and it’s also important to know how things have evolved over time … there is less subjugation of women around the world, not just in Chinese culture but in every culture. Now you should talk to my husband, she said.”
Dr. Cooper said he and his wife had visited China and found The Splendor quite different to what they had seen there.
Like his wife he had found the dance “beautiful” and was particularly intrigued with the contemporary pieces. “The beautiful and tragic story of the repression of the father,” he said referring to the piece Heaven Awaits Us Despite Persecution about a father tortured to death for practising Falun Gong in China.
The Splendor he said was “an interesting experience altogether".
With reporting by Sound of Hope Radio
Please see DivinePerformingArts.org for more information.
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