PORTLAND, Maine—Mr. Smith, a computer programmer, and Mrs. Smith, a psychiatrist, were among the bedazzled audience at the Merrill Auditorium in Portland on Sept. 19 to see New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts.
With its unique portrayal of traditional Chinese culture through classical Chinese dance and music it was a hit with the enthusiastic audience.
“It’s fantastic,” Mr. and Mrs. Smith said in unison, and Mr. Smith adding, “It’s beautiful.”
The couple didn’t know much about Chinese culture before coming to the show and it was their general interest in Chinese culture and Mrs. Smith’s love of dance that brought them to the show.
“It’s very complex. It seems–very sophisticated,” Mrs. Smith said of the dancing.
She was also amazed by the costumes and the symmetry of the performances.
The designs of the costumes for Shen Yun are all original. The result on stage is a visual delight in which brave warriors do battle in vibrant uniforms and dancers in beautiful silken dresses swirl and flow like water.
Mr. Smith was impressed with choreography saying: “The dancers seem very happy and very energetic. It’s awesome!”
As a computer programmer, Mr. Smith took special note of the technically innovative 3-D backdrops, saying, “The digital backgrounds are really excellent. They are very pretty. It’s very nice.”
The digital backdrops include scenes of majestic celestial palaces, sprawling Mongolian grasslands, and cascading clouds—giving each dance an added visual depth and grandeur.
In conclusion, Mr. Smith said he appreciated the traditional values depicted by the ancient Chinese myths and legends saying: “Yes, it was a very nice message. Very good.”
Shen Yun will be traveling to Canada to perform in Toronto Oct. 9–11.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of the Shen Yun Performing Arts 2009 World Tour. For more information, please visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
