LITTLE ROCK, Ark.—Martha Shoffner, Treasurer of the State of Arkansas, graciously welcomed Divine Performing Arts (DPA) to Little Rock.
She said in a statement before she saw the company, “Along with my duties as Arkansas State Treasurer, one of my main focuses is the proliferation of fine arts in our state. From everything I have heard, the performance...in presenting the Chinese history and culture to audiences all over the world is second to none. The people of Arkansas are indeed fortunate to have the opportunity to witness this extraordinary spectacle of dance, music and pageantry in an evening we will all remember. Again, my sincerest gratitude to everyone associated with the Divine Performing Arts.”
After she saw the performance, she warmly thanked a few of the dancers, including the one child in the company. “How do you float? It appeared that you were floating across the stage instead of walking. I’m going to go home and try to practice floating.”
“I’m excited that you’re going to come back.” She said Westerners do not necessarily understand Chinese culture, because ‘You have 5,000 years of history, we have 230 years. But you can teach us.”
She offered the dancers hospitality. “You can come visit me any time” she said, and promised hot chocolate for the child. She said her office was quite near the theater, on Capitol Hill. Little Rock’s center of government is a replica of Capitol Hill in Washington.
“If you’re here, if you’re not going back, come visit tomorrow for tea.”
Treasurer Shoffner has been a State Legislator and a businesswoman. She is a member of the D.A.R. [Daughters of the American Revolution], which means she is a direct descendant of a person who fought in the American Revolution. She works to prevent cruelty to animals as a member of the Humane Society.
As she bade goodbye to the artists, she said, “I just wanted to run up and introduce myself and to say how wonderful you were.”
Please see DivinePerformingArts.org for more information.
