WASHINGTON—The two Divine Performing Arts (DPA) shows at the Kennedy Center on Saturday, Feb. 14 moved many audience members to tears. For some, the shows were much more than perfect visual and audio artistic presentations—they marked the beginning of a new age. Zhao, a lady who moved from mainland China to the United States two years ago, said the DPA show is reviving the true Chinese culture and regaining the admiration and respect China has lost since the communist reign.
“I was touched to see so many Westerners warmly applauding Chinese culture and Chinese artists. The [Chinese] Communist Party has been bragging about how strong China’s economy and military powers are, but such ‘achievements’ have not earned China much respect, because the authorities never stopped persecuting people.” She said that this show truly won people’s hearts.
Zhao criticized the profit-driven propaganda shows that the Chinese authorities exported overseas. “Every show they brought here was a total failure. There are many talented people in China, but their talents are wasted. That’s a shame.”
Zhao said the DPA show gave her confidence in China’s future. “This is the real honor of Chinese people,” she said.
Zhao’s daughter Nancy echoed her mother’s admiration for the DPA show as well as her scorn for shows from communist China. “I have seen quite a few performances from mainland China. They were mostly sponsored by the Chinese embassy or consulate and carried political overtones. They are obviously just a form of political propaganda. So for us they are not art, but just gatherings.”
For more information please visit DivinePerformingArts.org
