TORONTO—For Nadia Potts, former principal dancer with the National Ballet of Canada, Divine Performing Arts never fails to impress with it’s wealth of talented dancers who she says continue to improve.
“The precision with which they rehearsed is amazing,” said Ms. Potts after seeing the show on Tuesday evening.
Ms. Potts retired from the National Ballet and an illustrious 20-year career as a principal dancer during which time she performed throughout the world in all the major roles in the ballet repertoire. Later she taught at the National Ballet School, the Banff Centre of Fine Arts, York University and George Brown College. In 1989 she was appointed Director of Ryerson’s Dance program, a position from which she is currently on sabbatical.
“They are beautifully trained, they’re beautifully rehearsed — beautifully trained and yet they each still have a heart and soul,” said Ms. Potts.
“You like to see them moving as a group but you also like to see their individualism. That’s very important, and I see them as individuals. I think that it’s very important that everyone dances together, but they preserve who they are and what they have to offer. I notice that very much among the dancers.”
Ms. Potts, who saw the Divine Performing Arts in Toronto last September, added that she remembered many of the dancers from last time, particularly her favourites, and she said that many of them were even better this year. She was especially impressed by the show’s lead dancers.
“They’re wonderful,” she said adding she liked two of the lead male dancers who performed a number of difficult pieces.
“Michelle, of course, she’s the ultimate artist,” said Ms. Potts, referring to principal dancer Michelle Ren. But it wasn’t just the quality of the lead dancers that struck her.
“It’s just the whole performance. What always hits me about it is the freshness — the dancers dance as though it’s the first time, and the joy with which they dance, and the commitment. It’s so beautifully rehearsed, and they look like they truly love what they are doing, which I know that they do. That is something very important for audience to experience.”
Ms. Potts said she noticed how classical Chinese dance has a true sense of tradition and discipline.
“The detail is very, very important, like in ballet it’s the detail. The more detail you have in the dance, the better it is. It’s very much the same with the Chinese dance, it’s the little nuances so beautifully rehearsed and kept, and it’s that sense of tradition that I think is so wonderful to see, and it is good to keep it alive.”
When asked if there was anything that really stood out for her, she talked about the emotional essence of the performances.
“It’s that depth of joy, and as I said once before, the commitment…. There is something beautiful and transporting about it, it takes you to another world.”
Ms. Potts added that she enjoyed the variety of dances. While it is in classical Chinese dance that the DPA artists have their foundational training, the company’s performances also include Chinese ethnic and folk dance.
“It is just interesting to see all the different kinds of dance, because last time I was here they were doing different ones. Vanessa mentioned the Mongolian dance [from the September show] that we very much liked, but then saw the new drumming one and the Tibetan one. It’s fascinating to see all these different things, and the way they work with props and costumes, and that they are able to drum and then dance … it’s very interesting to see all of those things.”
Ms. Potts was also impressed by the challenging tumbling moves of classical Chinese dance — leaps and flips that were later borrowed and incorporated into gymnastics.
According to the show’s program: “The guiding mission of Divine Performing Arts is to rediscover and renew humanity’s true, rightful cultural heritage. The company thus creates and performs works that centre upon the true, divinely bestowed culture of humankind, and seeks to provide an experience of consummate beauty and goodness.”
This guiding principle was something Ms. Potts particularly enjoyed.
“It’s a philosophy of life. Making the world a better place is something that we all should think about, every single one of us. That philosophy is wonderful and should continue to spread, you know making things better, [with] people being better to each other.”
She said it it is a universal message that is particularly relevant in the troubled times of today.
“I think it’s a very important message that we all consider. Each person has their own way of saying it and it’s very clear here. That is something that is very appreciated and good, it’s for the good of the world.”
Ms. Potts also praised the stamina of the dancers.
“The dancers look very fresh. It looks like every night they are trying to create the magic again and that is what performing is about, about creating the magic on daily basis, trying to search deep inside you to bring it out so you can bring the audience with you. They are very good at doing that.”
Ms. Potts appreciated that DPA performs with a live symphony orchestra.
“That’s very important. It’s wonderful that this group does bring in the live musicians, it is very, very important.”
She also enjoyed the soloists and the pianist who accompanied them.
“I remember her last time, she’s lovely, she’s very good, very very gifted.”
Divine Performing Arts uses an innovative animated backdrop which provides a living scene in which each dance unfolds. Some dances also interact with heavenly scenes from the backdrop to provide an extra dimension to the experience. Ms. Potts said she enjoyed this.
“They’re beautiful, my god they are so beautiful…they really are. That helps create the atmosphere,” she said.
“I will encourage people to come and see it.”
Divine Performing Arts will take the stage once more in Toronto on Wednesday evening before moving on to New York City’s famed Radio City Music Hall. Divine Performing Arts has two other dance companies currently touring in the United States.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of the Divine Performing Arts 2009 World Tour. For more information visit www.divineperformingarts.org
