Taiwan: Tainan Artists Praise DPA Show

On February 20th, 2009, the Divine Performing Arts (DPA) International Company staged its first show at the Tainan Municipal Cultural Centre.

The first DPA show in Tainan

Fine Arts Teacher: Dancers 'seem to be in a painting'

Mr. Ciyuan Hong, a fine arts teacher, said, "They seemed to be in a painting. DPA displayed the inner meaning of faith through art impeccably. It's definitely worth promoting."

Ciyuan Hong, a senior fine arts teacher

Mr. Hong has a degree in fine arts from the National Taiwan Normal University and a Master's degree in the arts from the Chang Jung Christian University.

"I was not only seeing the performance by the dancers. I was also enjoying a beautiful picture and work of art. This feeling, this realm, is very nice. Every scene in the backdrops has its own character. It made me feel that it's very profound."

He said that the stage design and the costumes have wonderful and natural colours. "The colours seemed to carry the feeling of Chinese tradition. Especially in the programmes Flowing Sleeves and Dance of the Snow-Capped Mountain, the use of the long sleeves was gorgeous. It fully displayed the elegance and grace of women."

Mr. Hong, who published many research reports on the blending of watercolours, said, "The combination of colours in the DPA show is harmonious and brilliant. The green and yellow in Flowing Sleeves and the purple in Dance of the Yi, when the dancers lift up and extend their skirts, wow, it was stunning. The white in The Udumbara's Bloom has very soft and gentle costumes. It's even more so when the dancers' gestures are so beautiful.

"The figures in the backdrops become the dancers. Then the dancers vanish into the backdrops again. This is very creative."

Mr. Hong said that it's nice that DPA brought spiritual content into the show, and the beautiful show does not make it seem like pompous moralising.

"When I first saw the show, my heart was astounded. Wow! It's so beautiful. It was extremely moving."

Flower art designer: DPA show is touching

Ms. Ye Bi-lian, a well-known flower art teacher and a senior flower art designer in the Tainan Flower Art Design Association, said that the DPA show is awe-inspiring. She said that the backdrops, stage performers, body language, Chinese classical dances, colourful costumes and the whole choreography were coordinated very well. The gentle gestures in the dancing were so touching.

She said, "It was awe-inspiring. I felt very happy. I liked the show very much. The programme where the Falun Gong practitioner was tortured to death but ascended to Heaven was touching. Seeing the fairies flying down from heaven shown in the backdrops, I felt that Buddha was looking at us. It seemed that we were also in that realm. I felt really good about that."

Kitchen utensil designer: I liked each programme

Mr. Wang has worked in kitchen utensil design for more than a decade. He bought his tickets early under the recommendation of one of his customers. He said that the DPA show touched him and he liked each programme. The last programme, Knowing the True Picture Offers Ultimate Hope, gives people a hint.

His wife also came to watch the show with him. She said, "Today is my husband's birthday, and our whole family came to see the show. The whole show was so touching. The costumes, backdrops, and the choreography are all great. It was the first time for me to see such a good show. It was just astonishing. I'll watch it again next year."