Olympic Swimmer: 'It's been spectacular, it's brilliant'

LONDON—"This show is, in a word, much better than any production I had seen in China," said former Olympic swimmer Ghefari Dulapandan after attending Sunday evening's performance of the Chinese Spectacular at London's Royal Festival Hall.

"From what I've seen until the intermission, it's been spectacular. It's brilliant."

"The Chinese dance and music are spiritually uplifting for the Chinese people. At this moment a lot of people are going through hardship and persecution in China and throughout the world," he said.

Dulapandan expressed his hope that all people will be able to distinguish right from wrong and take a stand against all the injustices that are happening around the world and in today's China.

"I hope that the Chinese people can take inspiration from their culture in this show and also their history from the Tang dynasty and wake up and fight for their country," said Dulapandan.

Dulapandan said his favorite piece in the Spectacular was Loyalty of Yue Fei, a legendary story in Chinese history where a young man's mother tells her son to serve his country loyally.

Dulapandan feels the story of Yue Fei, a famous general during the Song Dynasty known for his heroic feats, is an important lesson for China which teaches people to do what is right according to their consciences.

He predicts that the Chinese people will "wake up and win back their country's freedom."

"If you persevere and fight against all the evil things that are happening, you can come out victorious," he said.

Divine Performing Arts continues its European tour throughout February. For information about upcoming Divine Performing Arts shows, please visit:
www.DivinePerformingArts.org.