The Chinese New Year Spectacular presented by the Diving Performing Arts made its San Francisco debut on January 23 at the Orpheum Theatre. One theatre-goer, Ms. Jian Zhengxun, a former deputy to the Beijing Municipal People's Congress, praised the performance. "The Diving Performing Arts are rejuvenating Chinese Culture and have truly won honor for the Chinese people," she exclaimed.
Once a public official, Jian currently devotes herself to teaching the Chinese language at primary and secondary schools in the United States. As an integral part of her curriculum, Jian passionately promotes various aspects of Chinese culture whenever she has the opportunity. She believes that after 5,000 years, China has seen some of the most exquisite cultural expressions ever known. According to Jian, the rich legacy in literature and art handed down from past pages in China involves a profound morality that we can still learn from today.
Having read about the Diving Performing Arts in the Epoch Times newspaper, Jian was moved by comments from audience members who had seen the show claiming that the production "exhibited" or "rejuvenated Chinese culture", which prompted her to see the Chinese New Year Spectacular with her husband, an American musician. "By my reckoning, Chinese culture could exploit its potential completely in such a fairly free country," she said before the performance.
'Chang-Er's Flight to the Moon'
What were Jian's favorite segments of the show? In the first half, she chose the dance "Chang-Er's Flight to the Moon." "It is not only because of the fantastic dancing, but also the sprit I felt in the dance: no matter whether ancient or modern times, no matter the form of government, a leader ought to be able to sacrifice his personal interests for those of the people. Only in this way, he would win support and love from the people," she said responding the themes in the dance. "Leaders in the feudal age and in ancient times exercised such good conduct. Today leaders should be made to uphold these same high morals as well, instead of the rampant corruption we see today. Leaders should be able to give up their own well-being for the public good!"
Chinese Culture Renaissance
Noticing that every program was received with hearty rounds of applause, Ms. Jian remarked that the Diving Performing Arts attained an important goal in their performance: "Literature and art should guide people to seek after truth," she said
"I would like to revive the best art forms from our great 5,000 years old civilization to bring honor and dignity back to our Divine Land, enabling a positive change in destiny for our home country, thereby promoting the prosperity of our nation. As a Catholic I never became involved with Falun Gong, but I still believe that programs of entertainment should guide people in aspiring after truth. The Diving Performing Arts made this a reality," said Jian.
The show made her feel that a Chinese Culture Renaissance was appearing. She said, "We came to America from such a morally bankrupt country that possesses an ancient civilization. I felt many Chinese here were not as proud as they should be, because some Chinese people have proved themselves to be unworthy. But with this performance the Diving Performing Arts won warm applause from Americans, including my husband. It has truly revived traditional Chinese culture."
A Great Experience
As a musician, her husband was overwhelmed with admiration for the Diving Performing Arts, "It is marvelous," he said, "fantastic."
He gave high prais to what he called "extraordinary music." "The music is celestial. It was a great experience. It embodies all sorts of music in a single score, which I've never heard. I've only known Beijing Opera before. It was quite fascinating."
The "Drummers of the Tang Court" segment surprised him very much as well. "I particularly like the Tang Drummers," he explained. "The drummers move in such beautiful synchronized formations. It is amazing no one's movement is different!"
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