THE REPUBLICAN: Divine Dancers Play Hartford's Bushnell

From their seats in the Bushnell Performing Arts Center in Hartford, audiences this weekend will see the heroism of China's greatest general Yue Fei, join the legendary heroine Mulan on her quest, and peek at the courage of Falun Dafa practitioners in China today.

It's all part of the Divine [Shen Yun] Performing Arts 2009 World Tour whose dancers, vocalists and instrumentalists transport viewers back to the golden age of China's culture while portraying ancient myths and legends through flowing ballet-like dances, elaborate musical numbers rivaling any Broadway musical, drumming acts and operatic arias.

During its last world tour, Divine [Shen Yun] Performing Arts performed over 220 shows in 66 cities in the world including performances on such prestigious stages as Radio City Music Hall in New York City, Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, National Theatre in Washington, D.C., Palais des Congres de Paris, Royal Festival Hall in London, and many others.

It's the artistic group's first visit to Hartford.

"For the last couple years, we have been organizing bus trips from Connecticut to Radio City Music Hall and after convincing them to come here, it's a much shorter ride for us to see them," said William Cheung, recently elected president of the Connecticut Chinese Culture Association, who are sponsoring the Divine [Shen Yun] Performing Arts spectacular along with Falun Dafa Association of New England, and Renaissance Chinese Cultural Association.

Inspired by the spirit of an ancient culture, Divine Performing Arts brings to life classical Chinese dance and music through its elite company of dancers, singers and musicians. The New York-based troupe is distinguished by its masterful choreography and graceful routines ranging from grand classical processions to ethnic and folk dances, with colorfully costumed dancers moving in stunning synchronized patterns. Divine [Shen Yun] Performing Arts is the only company that performs pure, strictly authentic classical Chinese dance as part of its repertoire.