‘It stands alone,’ Says Former Dancer and Mayor

Mrs. Jean Chalmers and her husband Dr. David Chalmers saw Shen Yun in Jacksonville, Florida. on Jan. 30. (Mark Zou/The Epoch Times)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.—Mrs. Jean Chalmers and her husband Dr. David Chalmers are a remarkably accomplished couple. He taught American history at the University of Florida for 40 years. She danced professionally and later became mayor of Gainesville, a small but cultured city in north Florida, which is home of the University of Florida. The two saw Shen Yun in Jacksonville, Florida on Jan. 30. They traveled about 100 miles and got a hotel room near the theater in order to see the performance.

Mrs. Chalmers said that Shen Yun is even more essential now, during the economic crisis. She said, "We all know that in difficult economic times, the arts become more and more important. There’s just no question that the arts elevate people. I’m old enough to remember the real Depression, and the arts were very, very strong. If you go back and look at the early 30s, people needed it—and they need it now."

Mrs. Chalmers said her arts background gave her a keen appreciation of the performance. She said, "I just thought it was wonderful. I’m an old theater person from years ago, so I kind of know the work that goes into this, and it is amazing! Oh, those young people have such energy and such style."

Dr. Chalmers said, "I did learn something about Chinese culture and how important the story is."

They enjoyed their special evening. How much did Mrs. Chalmers enjoy it? "Oh, fabulous yes! yes! I was a hoofer—song and dance." She wore a heavy silk scarf embroidered with a Chinese figure to honor the event.

Mrs. Chalmers has been talking with a University of Florida professor about arranging for the New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts to visit Gainesville, where it has not yet performed.

She wondered if the smaller city would have enough potential audience members, yet "I think the intellectual community would love it. I would like to get this [company] to come to Gainesville. I think the intellectual community of Gainesville would appreciate it very, very much so that’s what I’m working on."

Though she has Chinese friends and an enthusiasm for Chinese arts, she said she had not seen classical Chinese dance before. It excited her. "I was just amazed at the energy and the technique, and the staging was so impressive.

"That’s a very difficult staging presentation to do, and the choreography with the back scenery is pretty unique."

She was intrigued by the projected backdrop. "That was fascinating! That was the first time I have seen that and was just really impressed by how the choreographer could integrate the back scenery with the dancers—smooth as could be, visually exciting," she said.

If anyone asked her to rate or rank the show, she could not, she said.

"There’s no way I can rate it. It stands alone. There’s nothing to compare it with."

With reporting from NTDTV.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. For more information, please visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org