TAMPERE, Finland—Samuli Majamäki is a Finnish musician and producer who took in the Divine Performing Arts Chinese Spectacular's Sunday debut in Finland, having performed in the same venue the night before.
"It's a beautiful show. I really respect their work of choreography, technique of dancing, all these structures they have made and practiced. As a performer I know it's tough work. They did it very well, very good quality," he said.
Majamaki plays percussion and performed in Tampere Hall on Saturday as part of a duo currently touring Finland. As a musician, Majamäki said he prefers live music. This is his first time to see a performance of traditional Chinese culture. He was particularly moved by the erhu, a two stringed Chinese violin of remarkable dexterity.
"It's beautiful," he said. "She was a very good player."
Taiwan dance teacher Jui-Ching Hsia accompanied Majamäki to the show. Once a resident of Taipei, Hsia now lives in Eurajoki, Finland, about 100km from Tampere. She didn't expect much from the show because she's not very keen on traditional dance. However, the Spectacular surprised her.
"Actually I'm very touched by the courage that the people in the show have, when they tell the people about the truth, what the (communist) government has done to the people in China."
Some of the show's content depicts human rights abuses in modern-day China, the persecution of Falun Gong specifically. Both of them think that the courage the performers have is the most important part of the show.
"That is the part that touched me most, the courage. I know that this government can use force," said Majamäki.
"Actually some tears came. I could feel how much they put themselves into it," said Hsia.
"I feel the energy is really nice. They call it Divine Performing Arts — I can feel the divine feeling," she added. Majamäki agreed.
"I like the Watersleeves, the long, long arms that the dancers are swinging in the air," said Hsia, describing her favorite piece.
"The traditional dance is very female…. In every old culture the difference between male and female is very clear. It's only now in this global western world they try to put them together but they can't take away the fact that they are two different creatures."
Hsia said she has been to Tibet and Mongolia and liked both a lot. Her father is from Mainland China but she hasn't been there.
"I think the Chinese people are more closed. The Taiwanese people are more friendly and easy. I think it is because of the politics in China."
If Jui-Ching and Samuli were each able to give a ticket to the Chinese Spectacular to one person in the world, to whom would they give it?
"The president of China," said Hsia.
"To the president's wife," said Majamäki.
The Spectacular will play in Tampere for two days, after which the group will return to Stockholm for an encore performance on April 3.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of the Shen Yun Chinese Spectacular shows. For more information, please see www.bestchineseshows.com .
For our complete coverage please visit http.en.epochtimes.com/features/dpa2008/.
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