SAN FRANCISCO—The audience filled the San Francisco Orpheum Theatre on its last two performances of Divine Performing Arts Chinese New Year Spectacular on Jan. 26.
"[The show did] a wonderful job in blending the old China and the new China.
"There is so much about old China that has so much dignity and class that I really do love yet when you bring the truth and compassion [part] in the new China there is a whole new side to it. I think the blending of the two makes it so interesting, said Margaret Padarathsingh a retired California state employee.
Padarathsingh, who together with her husband Vincent worked in both Sacramento and San Francisco for the state. The couple is originally from Trinidad and Tobago and now lives in Walnut Creek.
"The Truth Compassion part of the show was my favorite," continued Margaret referring to the Power of Awareness performance.
Vincent remembers how when the couple went to Beijing, China last year and visited Tiananmen Square the police stopped them from taking pictures and they were very strict with them.
They felt an eerie feeling while walking on the Square—and related to that incident when they watched a scene in another performance. When in Beijing they asked the tour guide why the police was acting like that and the tour guide responded he couldn't tell them why.
The guide only told them when they returned to the hotel—"because of politics, communist politics."
Vincent's favorite part the scenery was the background. "It makes me feel like I was there."
"Traditions, respect for older folks, are the most important things to our culture as well," the couple concluded.
Another couple also enjoyed the show.
"Overall it is very exciting, I liked all the dances—in particular the drums were my favorite." comments Shannon Yen, originally from Taiwan, now living in Palo Alto.
"Even the background music is very well played."
Her friend David Stahl's favorite performance was the Erhu.
After seven performances of the Chinese New Year Spectacular in San Francisco, the Divine Performing Arts group now travels to New York where they can be seen at Radio City Music Hall for 15 shows starting on Jan. 30.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Divine Performing Arts performances. For dates and times of their world tour visit: http://www.divineperformingarts.com/sy/ticket_info.