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ORLANDO, Fla.—A former dancer saw Shen Yun for the first time on Jan. 15 at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center. Maxine Cannicle said she was delighted with the artistry of the company.
“It’s fantastic! I love the Chinese art anyway because it’s so well-disciplined. You can see their form very well, and I just love the whole creativity that they have. It’s really, really nice.”
Ms. Cannicle danced with the very famous choreographer Alvin Ailey. He founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1958, and the company is still going strong today. Mr. Ailey and his successor, Judith Jameson, used clothes and fabric to extend the shape of dance movements.
Ms. Cannicle also danced with the Philadelphia Ballet Company. Speaking of Shen Yun’s choreography, she said, “I love it!
She was enthusiastic about the use of long, colorful sleeves in classical Chinese Dance. In one dance, Ancient Elegance, fairies glide like whispers on the wind, skillfully spinning with long silken sleeves, according to the program.
“I loved that, I loved that!” Ms. Cannicle said.
“It definitely enhanced the dance,” said Mr. John Rickenbacker, who accompanied her.
“It’s a great show,” Mr. Rickenbacker said. He expressed surprise that a contemporary dance in Shen Yun described the persecution of Falun Gong in today’s China. He said he knows a lot about Falun Gong, including the meditation part. He said he couldn’t understand why the Chinese regime would not want people to meditate.
He said he was glad that Shen Yun created art that included current history. “I’m glad they had the performance.”
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. The International Company will perform in Orlando on Jan. 16 and 17. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
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