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WASHINGTON—Watching Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Kennedy Center Opera House on Wednesday evening gave a better understanding of Chinese history and culture to Mr. Seth Ahlborn, Head of School(Equiv. to CEO) at the Congressional Schools of Virginia.
“In a very condensed period of time during the show, I learned more than I probably have in years. It was very exciting,” he said.
Although this was Mr. Ahlborn’s first Shen Yun experience, it wasn’t his first encounter with Chinese culture. Mr. Ahlborn explained that he has many long-time close Chinese family friends. However, many elements in the show were completely new to Mr. Ahlborn.
“This puts such an artistic expression on some of the stories that I had not really been aware of before. So this, the whole art form, I think, was very exciting to see, and of course in the Kennedy Center; just a marvelous show.”
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts presents classical Chinese dance and music. The dances tell storylines inspired from China’s rich history and legends and modern-day tales of courage.
He continued, “I was impressed by the multiple dynasties presented, and what I understand, is some very accurate history in the stories that came through. It’s very exciting.”
The drumming in the show with its thunderous sound was particularly impressive for Mr. Ahlborn, and watching the movements of male dancers in the scene Imperial Archers was something to remember for him.
Shen Yun also presents dances from different regions of China, enhanced with colorful customs and backdrop imagery representative of the region. This was very well received by Mr. Ahlborn who found it “exciting” to see the diversity and the “different expressions” in China being presented on stage.
“I thought that was one of the most important things in the show, was seeing the Southwest, and different geographies, and the different peoples. Like any of us, we’re never all the same people; we’re all human, but we’re all different and unique in some way,” Mr. Ahlborn said.
“It’s nice to see that geography represented in the show. I think it creates a nice, broad understanding of the diversity of the peoples.”
Mr. Ahlborn said the show also portrays different values, values he described as “openness and trust and transcendence, and the historical—maybe even the new—perspective of the gods being among us at all times”, which he finds to be “a wonderful expression.”
“That’s very exciting for me. I’m a Christian, and I believe very fully that this is true.”
He said he could relate to these messages in his own daily life, in how he tries to do the things that are good and true, and tries to provide truth in everything that he does.
Shen Yun Performing Arts performs at the Washington D.C. Kennedy Center Opera House from Wednesday Aug. 25, to Sunday, Aug. 29. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts.
