LINKOPING, Sweden—Karin Wallin, Fair Trade City Coordinator in Malmö City, Sweden, had already had a lot of contact with China before she came to see the Divine Performing Arts Chinese Spectacular in Linkoping on March 27.
As a Fair Trade Coordinator, however, her exposure to China mostly revolved around complaints of poor conditions for workers, so she was happy to see something positive in relationship to China.
"Mostly I'm in contact with China when it's about bad conditions for workers in [Chinese] factories, in the textile industry, the toy industry, where very very much of what we buy comes from China. So it's nice to see something else — something positive," said Wallin.
Wallin said she was pleasantly surprised by the show's content that touches upon issues in modern China, referring to the two pieces depicting the persecution of the Falun Gong meditation practice and the triumph of goodness in the face of brutality.
"There is not only beautiful singing and dancing, but there is also a deeper message," said Wallin.
One of the two dances, "The Power of Awareness," shows average Chinese taking a stand against the persecution by chasing away communist thugs, presumably Chinese police, who are attacking a Falun Gong practitioner and her young daughter in a park.
In Wallin's view, it is good to convey this through culture.
The traditional Chinese instruments which form part of the 50-piece Divine Performing Arts orchestra also appealed to Karin. She especially appreciated the erhu solo. The erhu is a two-stringed instrument known for its wide range of notes and mellow, haunting sound.
In fact, Wallin had a long list of "favourite" pieces, including "Nymphs of the Sea," for the way the performers imitated water using fans; the all-male dance "Herding on the Mongolian Plains" because of the coordination between so many dancers and they way they portrayed horses chasing forward; and finally the Tibetan dance "Snowy Mountain, White Lotus" for the effect of the women's long sleeves.
"It looked graceful when they made the ribbons, sleeves fly," she said, adding that she also enjoyed the moving pictures of the backdrop.
In conclusion, Karin said she wished that she herself could dance like the Chinese dancers.
"I would like to join. One wishes there was a workshop where to take part in and try it oneself, that would be great fun."
For information about upcoming Divine Performing Arts shows, please visit:
www.BestChineseShows.com.
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http://en.epochtimes.com/features/dpa2008/