ST LOUIS—Folk dance is a passion of the Blanchards, so when the Divine Performing Arts (DPA) opened on Feb. 6 at Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center, they made sure to be there.
The DPA New York-based company is renowned for it’s repertoire of story-based dances, just what the couple was wanting to see.
“It’s very interesting, very different from the sorts of things I try to do and we see elsewhere,” said Mr. Blanchard, who teaches chemistry at different schools in St. Louis.
He had never seen the DPA show before and was not disappointed. China’s vast region is home to dozens of different ethnic groups, each with its own distinctive style and folk traditions, dance techniques, dress, and music.
“I have a feeling there is a lot more to it than I’m probably getting out of it right now, just because I don’t have any background in this type of dance. But I enjoy it. It’s very interesting,” he said.
He and his wife both belong to a folk dance association in St. Louis, mostly of European and Middle Eastern origin and are looking forward to a Bulgarian folk dance workshop this weekend.
Mrs. Blanchard, who teaches water aerobics, loved the dancing and the singing throughout the DPA presentation.
“I think it’s very beautiful, very gracious. The singers were very impressive.”
Vocal soloists of DPA are elite singers who perform throughout the year on many of the world’s greatest stages, highly acclaimed by audiences and critics alike. Chinese lyrics, with English subtitles on a high-tech LCD screen, appear upon majestic scenes.
Mrs. Blanchard said that the distinctive Chinese cadence had “a Buddhist feel for the people of China from the words that were sung.”
Mr. Blanchard favored most the Dance of the Snow-Capped Mountain, as well as the Dance of the Yi.
The Dance of the Snow-Capped Mountain belongs to Tibet. Long sleeves, sturdy boots, and colorful prayer beads capture the energy and vibrancy of these people, undaunted by life on the rooftop of the world.
The Yi are passionate about music and dance and are known to seize any occasion to dance out their feelings. Playful hand gestures mimic Yi women’s fondness for embroidered hats, while silken rainbow colored skirts mirror joyful spirits.
Mrs. Blanchard likened some of the dances to Mexico and other countries, adding, “They probably all originated from China.”
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of the Divine Performing Arts. Please see DivinePerformingArts.org for more information.
The DPA New York-based company is renowned for it’s repertoire of story-based dances, just what the couple was wanting to see.
“It’s very interesting, very different from the sorts of things I try to do and we see elsewhere,” said Mr. Blanchard, who teaches chemistry at different schools in St. Louis.
He had never seen the DPA show before and was not disappointed. China’s vast region is home to dozens of different ethnic groups, each with its own distinctive style and folk traditions, dance techniques, dress, and music.
“I have a feeling there is a lot more to it than I’m probably getting out of it right now, just because I don’t have any background in this type of dance. But I enjoy it. It’s very interesting,” he said.
He and his wife both belong to a folk dance association in St. Louis, mostly of European and Middle Eastern origin and are looking forward to a Bulgarian folk dance workshop this weekend.
Mrs. Blanchard, who teaches water aerobics, loved the dancing and the singing throughout the DPA presentation.
“I think it’s very beautiful, very gracious. The singers were very impressive.”
Vocal soloists of DPA are elite singers who perform throughout the year on many of the world’s greatest stages, highly acclaimed by audiences and critics alike. Chinese lyrics, with English subtitles on a high-tech LCD screen, appear upon majestic scenes.
Mrs. Blanchard said that the distinctive Chinese cadence had “a Buddhist feel for the people of China from the words that were sung.”
Mr. Blanchard favored most the Dance of the Snow-Capped Mountain, as well as the Dance of the Yi.
The Dance of the Snow-Capped Mountain belongs to Tibet. Long sleeves, sturdy boots, and colorful prayer beads capture the energy and vibrancy of these people, undaunted by life on the rooftop of the world.
The Yi are passionate about music and dance and are known to seize any occasion to dance out their feelings. Playful hand gestures mimic Yi women’s fondness for embroidered hats, while silken rainbow colored skirts mirror joyful spirits.
Mrs. Blanchard likened some of the dances to Mexico and other countries, adding, “They probably all originated from China.”
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of the Divine Performing Arts. Please see DivinePerformingArts.org for more information.
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