Memorabilia between NAAA and DKT on arranging Shen Yun Show in 2008

                                                                                                                                                                                       ---Nordic Asian Arts Association

                                                                                                                          9th. March, 2008

 

Middle of August, 2007: NAAA try to contact DKT, one day Marco Hsu introduced Divine Performing Arts show on phone,  Commercial director Peter Bentzon show big interesting, and suggested the possible can be in Ester time 2008, since other time are all occupied.

 

28^th. August, 2007: A meeting between NAAA with 3 persons and DKT Peter Bentzon with his 2 colleagues. From very beginning Peter Bentzon said, after discussed with his colleagues, they decided to rent Opera Store Scene to Divine Performing Arts show. He told the normal price for renting will be around 300000,00 kr. per day.

 

9^th. Sept. 2007: Peter Bentzon send a mail, the rent become 1 million per day, he explained: “I have discussed this on with our General Director and the big problem is, that we really cannot fit a project of this huge kind in to our planning, due to very scare human-resources and other immense challenges facing us the coming year, alone with carrying out our normal, planned repertoire.”

 

12^th. Sept.2007: Yanping E. Lu, the stage/production manager of the DPA from New York sent a long mail to Peter Bentzon, and explained from the technical aspect, that we do not need to have a huge number of stage hands and others. Ask for a reduced rent or find another day out of Easter.

14^th. Sept. 2007: Marco Hsu sent a mail to Peter Bentzon: “it is not an insurmountable task that lay before us and I’m positive that we are able to pull it off if we set our minds to it.”  and suggest a meeting with the General Director of DKT.

1^st. Oct. 2007: Peter Bentzon mailed to NAAA, he had discussed with General Manager and still feel not possible for them; and suggested hosting DPA show in 2009, and have a meeting on this in November.

 

17^th. Oct. 2007: Linda Wu from NAAA mailed to Peter Bentzon explained only 6 stage hands can work. The same day Peter Bentzon replied, he asked the stage manager to investigation if they can find 6 stage hands.

 

 5^th. Nov. 2007: Peter Bentzon mailed “we will be able to rent out the Opera for two days in the Easter, 700-2300 hours both days.  The rental fee will be 500.000 dkk + VAT.  Included in the rent is: 6 stage-technicians, incl. one for sound and video, and one for the computer controlling the lighting. Wardrobes, extra cleaning, ushers for the show, fire-guards, security and all other in-house services. “Peter Bentzon said, it will be confirmed soon,.

 

8^th -13^th Nov. 2007: NAAA staffs had a global meeting in New York, for setting up the final route for touring. Before leaving for New York, Marco Hsu mailed to Peter Bentzon suggested to have a meeting with DKT for further arrangement after coming back from NY.

 

13^th. Nov. 2007: Peter Bentzon gave last confirm, and wrote:” 100% confirmed now. Next step: a planning meeting.”

 

23^rd. Nov. 2007: NAAA sent several mails to ask for the meeting time and contract proposal. Peter Bentzon replied a mail, he wrote: “However, I can guarantee you that everything will work out fine, and that we will do everything to assist you given the circumstances.”

 

30^th. Nov. 2007: Peter Bentzon sent a contract proposal and suggested to have a meeting before Christmas.

 

10^th. Dec. 2007: NAAA send the suggestion for the contract to DKT, since Peter Bentzon was very busy, NAAA tried to discuss with the DKT lawyer Mia Funck, who made the contract before we have the formal meeting to sign the contract. A meeting with Mia Funck planned on 11^th Dec.

 

11^th. Dec. 2007: NAAA got a mail from Mia Funck, that the meeting was cancelled.

 

12^th. Dec. 2007:  Peter Bentzon sent a mail with cancellation. He said: “hosting your show in the Easter time (or in 2008 as a whole) simply would have the most severe and catastrophic effects on our "must-do´s.”

 

13^th. Dec. 2007: Marco Hsu from NAAA sent a mail and asked for a meeting to discuss about the situation.

 

14^th. Dec.2007: The representatives of NAAA personally went to DKT administration office; ask for meet DKT General Director Michael Christiansen or Commercial Director Peter Bentzon, or other members of Direction of DKT. We only had a phone conversation with Økonomi- og personaledirektør Kim Bohr, who did not know anything. From morning 9.00 until the evening 19:15, the representatives of NAAA waited at the reception whole day, asked for a short meeting, but in vain.

 

17^th. Dec. 2007: The representatives of NAAA waited at DKT reception, and occasionally saw Peter Bentzon when he came out with his guests. He promised a reply.

 

The afternoon Marco Hsu got a phone call from Kim Bohr, he repeated the cancellation and suggested NAAA try other cities such as Århus, Malmo…..

 

The same day NAAA sent a long mail to DKT, ask for a meeting again. The mail stated: “We insist on having a meeting with you now is not simply because we would like to tell you who we are, why we use our efforts to introduce this show to Denmark. Another important reason is because of the interference from the Chinese regime….. We do hope that the cancellation could not be due to the same pressure from the Chinese Embassy here in Denmark.”

 

4^th. Jan. 2008: NAAA sent a long letter via post to all members of Direction of DKT and all members of Board of DKT, and copy to Cultural Minister Brian Mikkelsen.

 

8^th. Jan.2008:  NAAA received a letter from Chairman of Board Lars Pallesen and General Director Michael Christiansen, which denied that the cancellation was from an external political pressure.

 

18^th. Jan. 2008:  NAAA sent an formal invitation to chairman of board, Lars Pallesen and General Director Michael Christiansen, invite them to attend the Chinese New Year Splendor at Radio City in New York 30th Jan.

 

31^st. Jan. 208: NAAA received a letter from Michael Christiansen, which stated: “On behalf of Lars Pallesen and myself we thank you for the invitation to the performance in New York. Unfortunately we are unable to attend”.

 

5^th. Feb. 2008: Politiken published an article, where stated: »Vi har udtrykkeligt sagt, at vi gerne ville hjælpe dem med at finde et andet sted. Og vi har også sagt, at hvis de kan dokumentere et påført økonomisk tab, må vi tale om det«, siger Peter Bentzon.”, which no one of NAAA had heard before.

 

6th. Feb. 2008: Jylands Posten published an article: ”Divine Beauty” viser traditionel kinesisk dans og folklore, og det kommunistiske parti i Kina er ingen beundrer af kulturen fra før magtovertagelsen. Bag forestillingen står New Tang Dynasty Television i New York, som er associeret med den religiøse bevægelse Falun Gong.”

 

9^th. Feb. 2008: The representatives of NAAA and its 2 colleagues of South Øresund spend another whole day at DKT, tried to meet Michael Christiansen or Peter Bentzon, but was refused.

 

18^th. Feb. 2008: NAAA sent a letter for an urgent meeting with DKT, for discuss about the DPA artists will arrive in 18^th. March as planned, and seek for a possibility of venue, according to Peter Bentzon´s promise.

 

21^st. Feb. 2008: Peter Bentzon sent a reply mail, which stated: “I answer on behalf of General Director Michael Christiansen. We have absolutely nothing to add to the various statements, already given in letters and E-mails. Thus, a meeting would be fruitless and we do not wish to participate in such.”  

 

 

 

Our Comments :

 

1.      From the beginning, DKT show the kindness and big interesting for the performance. At earlier time after a meeting ( the only meeting), DKT had a hesitate, for the reason of short of man power, which is quite understandable. With the explanation by the stage/production manager of the DPA from New York and NAAA, DKT spent 2 months (From 9th. Sept. which Peter Bentzon´s mail for 1 million kr. rent to 5th. Nov the final acceptation mail by Peter Bentzon) for a carefully evaluation and actually convinced by the explanation, and arranged all staffs and other necessary man power, too. From the DKT stage manager Kim Lennart Hansen, we know the staffs are also happy to work for the DPA show. Actually all matters of DKT hesitating have been solved already. 

2.      From 12th Dec. until now, DKT could not say any clear new reason, which let them make the cancellation. And no matter how much efforts NAAA tried to a meeting, DKT never want to have a face to face contact. The attitude of DKT became suddenly in un-polite way, which is not normal Danish way. 

3.      But at the same time of the cancellation, DKT made a very quick cooperation with Chinese Embassy to hold another show on 1st. Feb. The arrangement was very short of half a moth. The big difference of treating the 2 Chinese performances by DKT, which can be hardly convinced by its declare: DKT is “ free of external interference”, and  “ to secure an arms-length distance between independent  performances and political considerations,”

4.      NAAA is a non-profit organization and formed by both the Danish and Chinese people who devote to the traditional Chinese culture, arts and values. When the cancellation by DKT came at the very late time, which NAAA has no any possibility to change the global plan or find other venue, the artist group will be in Denmark as plan but nothing to do. All the economic lost will be paid by all members of NAAA private pocket. DKT never show its kind help for the venue or economic, which Peter Bentzon said at Politiken´s interview, which NAAA feels not honest. We feel the big change of the behavior by DKT must be some other reasons behind. 

5.      From experience in nearly all countries of the world, Chinese Communist regime has used all means to stop the Divine Performing show. The Chinese Embassy in Denmark refused to say if they were involved in the cancellation, but from very early time all staffs in embassy knew the cancellation before NAAA published; and the sudden late cancellation and changes of DKT attitude let NAAA have big suspicion of the real reason. 

Denmark is a democracy country with the great respect of freedom and human rights, if Chinese Communist dictator can interfere even such a real culture event in Denmark, it is totally against Denmark people´s willing. So a deeply, seriously investigation on the case is necessary and important. NAAA expects an honest and clear explanation and wish not repeat the same treatment in 2009 by the national cultural institution.