WASHINGTON—Andrew, a high school senior, and his mom, Ms. Smith, a consultant, came to the Divine Performing Arts (DPA) show at the Kennedy Center Opera House on Tuesday night Feb. 10 because of a “strong recommendation” of someone they knew. When asked about their impressions, the pair wanted to avoid using clichés like “beautiful,” “exotic,” and “wonderful,” but couldn’t help themselves.
“I don’t want to say beautiful, because it really doesn’t capture it, but it was,” said Ms. Smith. And she laughed, “There you go!” she said when her son used “exotic” and “wonderful” to describe his impressions.
Understandably, the two mentioned different dances which were their favorites. Andrew liked the Tibetan dance and “the spinning.” He was referring to Dance of the Snow-Capped Mountain in the program, which shows male dancers vigorously celebrating the joys of the Tibetan steppes. The dancers are wearing long sleeves and colorful prayer beads.
“I think he was right, it was sort of very joyful and maybe that’s what I liked about it.”
The person he was referring to was Yungchia Chen, who is the principal (male) dancer for the DPA company. Mr. Chen was trained in Chinese classical and folk dance and ballet.
Ms. Smith mentioned Mystical Phoenix and an ethnic dance, Mongolian Chopsticks, which her son said resonated well with him also.
“I loved the women in folk skirts … and then of course, the ribbons. I know they’re not ribbons, [I mean] sleeves,” she said.
The dancers in The Mystical Phoenix wear long, flowing dresses, and by their arm movements and quick, light steps, they portray the “mystical” phoenix prancing about the clouds.
Ms. Smith’s impressions are really true. The long sleeves in many of the women’s dances—much longer than what the men wore in the Tibetan dance—do look like ribbons by the wave of their arms.
For more information please visit DivinePerformingArts.org
“I don’t want to say beautiful, because it really doesn’t capture it, but it was,” said Ms. Smith. And she laughed, “There you go!” she said when her son used “exotic” and “wonderful” to describe his impressions.
Understandably, the two mentioned different dances which were their favorites. Andrew liked the Tibetan dance and “the spinning.” He was referring to Dance of the Snow-Capped Mountain in the program, which shows male dancers vigorously celebrating the joys of the Tibetan steppes. The dancers are wearing long sleeves and colorful prayer beads.
“I think he was right, it was sort of very joyful and maybe that’s what I liked about it.”
The person he was referring to was Yungchia Chen, who is the principal (male) dancer for the DPA company. Mr. Chen was trained in Chinese classical and folk dance and ballet.
Ms. Smith mentioned Mystical Phoenix and an ethnic dance, Mongolian Chopsticks, which her son said resonated well with him also.
“I loved the women in folk skirts … and then of course, the ribbons. I know they’re not ribbons, [I mean] sleeves,” she said.
The dancers in The Mystical Phoenix wear long, flowing dresses, and by their arm movements and quick, light steps, they portray the “mystical” phoenix prancing about the clouds.
Ms. Smith’s impressions are really true. The long sleeves in many of the women’s dances—much longer than what the men wore in the Tibetan dance—do look like ribbons by the wave of their arms.
For more information please visit DivinePerformingArts.org
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