LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending the Divine Performing Arts upon the
occasion of its designation for special recognition

WHEREAS, This Great Empire State is fortunate to have in its midst a
substantial number of citizens who trace their origins to China; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
the Divine Performing Arts upon the occasion of its designation for
special recognition, to be celebrated on Saturday, February 21, 2009;
and
WHEREAS, On this special day, the Divine Performing Arts will play in
Rochester, New York, for the first time as part of the 2009 World Tour
at the Auditorium Theater; and
WHEREAS, Divine Performing Arts is a nonprofit entity based in New
York State, which seeks to rediscover the true cultural heritage of
traditional China and to share this culture and its beauty throughout
the world; it seeks to produce an art that is not only rich, relevant
and inspiring, but one which also offers the audience of all ages a rare
experience of consummate beauty and goodness; and
WHEREAS, Divine Performing Arts is a triumph of collaboration, bring-
ing together leading dancers, choreographers, and musicians from around
the world; its productions are unique in being not only tremendously fun
and entertaining, but also educational, enriching, and uplifting; each
year, Divine Performing Arts premieres an entirely new program of
dances, songs, and musical scores; and
WHEREAS, Divine Performing Arts came into being in 2006 with a vision
of cultural renewal; it was then that leading Chinese artists and
several small performance companies joined together to revive an artis-
tic tradition; and
WHEREAS, In its inaugural 2006-2007 season, Divine Performing Arts
performed for some 200,000 people; in 2007-2008, that number increased
to 600,000; Divine Performing Arts has already graced many of the
world's greatest stages, including New York's Radio City Music Hall,
London's Royal Festival Hall, Los Angeles' Kodak Theatre, and Paris' Le
Palais de Congres; and
WHEREAS, Today, Divine Performing Arts is proud to consist of three
dance companies, two orchestras, and a host of choreographers, compos-
ers, costume designers, backdrop artists, and artistic staff; and
WHEREAS, Once the producer of shows titled variously "Chinese Spectac-
ular", "Holiday Wonders", and "Shen Yun", Divine Performing Arts now
often performs under simply its company name; each year it travels the
world, performing on tour across Europe, North America, Oceania, and
Asia; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when organiza-
tions of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the Divine Performing Arts upon the occasion of its designation
for special recognition; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Divine Performing Arts.