ST. LOUIS,MO—Estella Ruzicka, a member of the Department of Dance Faculty at Washington University and owner of her own ballroom dance company gave the Chinese Spectacular ten out of ten when she saw it with husband Randy at the Touhill Performing Arts Center April 30.
"It was excellent. All excellent," Estella said.
"You could tell all of them had ballet. I could tell because I have studied ballet, so … I was impressed."
"I also like the way they move. Their foot work is so unique, so precise, and small steps, they look motorized. I love that."
"Oh, I loved the turns and the flips that the gentlemen did and some of the ladies."
Estella commented particularly on the 'Mongolian Bowl Dance' saying it was probably because she appreciated the balance required and added, "and the graceful movements and all the foot work, and they maintain their stature while balancing this on their heads. Being a professional dancer I appreciate that."
'Nymphs of the Sea' was also a favorite she said. "The ocean, you see the words rippling, rippling the waves. Yes, that's another dance I liked, that showed the waves, the water, the blue … and I liked the fan dance too … because the movement with the feet and the fluttering of the fan. The way they moved and the way they changed. It was just great … the way they interacted and did the choreography with the props in their hands, and their costumes … everything. I just love dancing. I'm a dancer."
Estella gave the choreography, costumes and dance skill ten out of ten and also commented on the drumming saying: "I liked even the drumming. I liked the choreography with the instruments as they moved the drums back and forth. It was compelling."
Randy also loved the drumming saying: "Oh, yeah it was all very powerful and it had a very positive message."
He was particularly impressed with the focus on traditional Chinese culture in the show. "..every piece was a little bit different and each showed a different facet of a culture that we probably don't know that much about."
Estella, who grew up with a connection to Chinese culture through her family's interest in Chinese furniture said the show had a message beyond one culture.
"But it's a universal message – the power of awareness and the divine."
Randy agreed saying, "Right, and positive thinking, positive attitudes in face of disparity."
Estella summed it up saying: "It was very, very, very good. Colourful, delicate, touching.
"We wish them [Divine Performing Arts] a lot of success. A great deal of success. And I would like to see it here again next year."
For information about upcoming Divine Performing Arts shows, please visit: www.DivinePerformingArts.org.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of the Divine Performing Arts company. For our complete coverage please visit: http://en.epochtimes.com/features/dpa2008/
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