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Lucy and Sandy Pyonin, at Lincoln Center, celebrating Lucy's birthday at Shen Yun's performance. (Pamela Tsai/The Epoch Times)
NEW YORK—Sandy Pyonin is well acquainted with hard work and discipline, having trained 32 NBA basketball players over the last 35 years in New Jersey.
Mr. Pyonin attended Saturday evening’s Shen Yun Performing Arts performance at Lincoln Center, and one thing he recognized was how much effort and time the New York-based performance arts company puts into its shows.
“I like the skills and I know how much hard work it takes to get the coordination to put together a program like this,” he said. His wife, Lucy, who is from Ukraine, also enjoyed the performance. She enjoyed the piece Plum Blossom, an ode to the beautiful and strong flower that symbolizes strength amidst harsh conditions, blossoming even in freezing temperatures.
Through two hours of unparalleled dance and music, Shen Yun takes the audience from the beginnings of Chinese culture up to modern China. Mr. Pyonin was unaware of some of the oppressive realities of modern day China, where there are heavy restrictions on freedom of expression and belief, including the arts.
“They beat the teachers up?” he asked. “Why are they doing that?”
He was referring to the Shen Yun piece Our Story, in which a teacher is persecuted for teaching her pupils three words: truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance, central tenets of spiritual practice of Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong. The piece is an expression of what millions of Falun Dafa practitioners who have been persecuted for their beliefs have been subjected to since 1999, when Falun Gong was banned in China.
“It’s unfortunate,” Mr. Pyonin said.
One aspect of Shen Yun’s artistry is a stage-wide digital backdrop, which changes frequently and displays stunning visuals that are often animated, working in synch with the performers. “A nice touch,” said Mr. Pyonin.
Mr. Pyonin said he would highly recommend it to his family and friends, especially those interested in the arts. “It relaxes me,” he said. “I enjoy the beauty.”Reporting by Pamela Tsai and Zack Stieber.
Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company will perform at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater in New York City, June 23-26. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts.
