STOCKHOLM, Sweden—Kathleen Quinlan Zetterberg, owner of a dance studio in Stockholm and a dancer in the tradition of Isadora Duncan with 30 years of professional dance experience, noticed something very special about the Chinese Spectacular —the audience reaction.
"The audience was so involved in the performance," she shared, "which is exciting just to sit in the audience. There were many people here today who loved, they loved the performance before it began, which was very exciting."
This kind of reception is not something Ms. Zetterberg has seen often in Sweden. "I think it's a very special audience as well. People are really enthusiastic."
"Perhaps," she mused, "today being the first day, there have been many people who have been really waiting for this event who are here and are really thrilled that they're here."
Although the Chinese classical dance is new to her, Ms. Zetterberg "found it very interesting." She explained that "I have not really seen Chinese performance in this way. I have spent some time in Japan and had seen some of the traditional Japanese dance and theater, but this is very new to me. I think it's lovely."
Of the performance itself, Ms. Zetterberg thought that the dancers "are beautiful, very beautiful."
More specifically, Ms. Zetterberg, commented on the truthfulness of the dancers' expression: "I had this one sense when the woman was singing and I was able to read the words, that I felt that—it was very important the truth and movement and they did that really well. You could really see that coming out and that it was something very important to the dancers."
Ms.Zetterberg brought to the performance her daughter, Lilly, and one of her students, Emelie Borg, both of whom study at the Royal Ballet School in Stockholm.
Lilly felt the excitement of the show, noted its beauty and how it enjoyable it was. "I really liked the singing," she said. "I think they're beautiful voices. And it's spectacular all the costumes, and there's always something happening. And it changes all the time so it's really fun to watch."
Emelie agreed that the show was spectacular and felt the music enhanced the dance. "I like the music a lot. That was … bringing the dance out and making it bigger and better—really good."
In particular she noted the story-line of "The Loyalty of Yue Fei." "I liked the dance with the boys when they were dancing not knowing if he was stay with his country or stay with his mom. I really liked that dance.
"I really get the feeling of what is happening," she summed it up, "and I can feel the message."
For information about upcoming Divine Performing Arts shows, please visit: www.DivinePerformingArts.org.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of the Chinese Spectacular. For our complete coverage please visit: http://en.epochtimes.com/features/dpa2008/
Feeds