PHILADELPHIA—As the audience was leaving the Divine Performing Arts opening show in Philadelphia on Friday night, a common theme ran through their comments—irony. The show is all about Chinese culture, but many of the themes depicted in the dances and songs could not be conveyed in modern-day China.
For 5,000 years, Chinese society was built on faith and respect of one’s roots, both familial and spiritual. But since the communist takeover in 1949, the regime has been systematically rewriting the history books, smashing antique art, and infusing their own regime-centric culture into the arts.
Audience member Denise, who is originally from Philadelphia, saw the situation of art in modern-day China first-hand. Last summer, before the Olympic Games, she led a group of students to Beijing, where she saw an opera.
“It was very interesting to see that there were so many things that they could not show to the people,” she said. “And you would know that they were just leaving out so many things where here you were able to get the truth. ... Unfortunately we can’t see this there where it belongs.”
Ms. Forman, a chemist, was throughly impressed by DPA’s performance.
“It’s really a shame that this kind of culture is not allowed in China,” she said. “They’re missing a great deal of their heritage by having it destroyed. That’s sad. And if this helps to bring the people back to their culture that’s a wonderful thing that [DPA is] doing.”
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of the Divine Performing Arts 2009 World Tour.
For more information please visit DivinePerformingArts.org
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