NEW YORK—Karen Schmitt, director of public relations for the National Defense Transportation Association in Washington, D.C., took in the final performance of Chinese New Year Splendor on Saturday evening after coming to New York to see a friend, who invited her to see the show.
"I have a previous encounter [with Chinese culture], and I miss it very much. This was like being home for me," said the former nine-year resident of Taiwan, "It was a very important part of my life."
Schmitt said she felt the aspects of the performance that show the persecution against the Falun Gong meditation practice in China were important to the show, "I didn't realize that there was the association with Falun Gong here. That's a very important element, too."
"It's a very important part."
She continued, "I enjoyed the modern interpretation; you know, with the whole group out there, when they were being persecuted for spreading the word, and the little girl, and her mother. I think that that was very powerful, I mean, certainly because it was in a modern context, you know, but with the traditional movements. I enjoyed that."
Schmitt also commented enthusiastically on the visual qualities of the show, "The stage designing with the wonderful backgrounds, and the way the music and the story interrelated with the visual elements … I loved the music, I liked the dancing."
To Schmitt, Splendor brings a positive and needed message to the world," I think it's a very positive message. I think we need more positive messages in this world," she said.
"Our society right now, we're having a lot of difficulty, a lot of challenges. We need more positive messages. We need to also respect each other. I think if we respect each other more, things will be more positive."
The Divine Performing Arts international touring companies land next in Germany and Japan. For information on all upcoming shows, please visit: www.DivinePerformingArts.org.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of the Chinese New Year Splendor.
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