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Segerstrom Center for the Arts, in Costa Mesa. (The Epoch Times)
COSTA MESA, Calif.—On Shen Yun’s opening night in the Los Angeles area, Mr. Torsten Kunert and Ms. Tricia Trimble were invited to the performance. They enjoyed the expressive styles of traditional clothing and the variety of ethnic dances.
Ms. Tricia Trimble established Suntegrity, which produces natural sunscreen products. Mr. Torsten Kunert co-founded Handshake.com, a website that helps connect those interested in renting, buying, or selling real estate.
Candy for the Eye
“It’s great! Beautiful costumes, beautiful music, a really good show,” Ms. Trimble said. “In particular, I loved the costumes, and I loved how they used the—I don’t know what they’re called—like scarves, and the movements. They’re like candy for the eye. Really beautiful.”
Many audience members are fascinated with the costumes, and one of the favorites is the flowing sleeves used in one of the women’s dances known as Water Sleeves.
Chinese culture is very diverse. There is the main Han culture, but China also has another 55 minority ethnicities, each with their own unique clothing styles, dances and traditions.
“It’s just a varied background; they’re showing very different segments, and very interesting,” Ms. Trimble said.
“What stood out to me, I think, was the Mongolian dance, with the bowls,” Mr. Kunert said. “I found that very interesting. The various movements, when you go through the different regions of China, I do notice slight subtleties and slight differences in the dance types, and that’s what I think is very interesting.”
I’m Astounded
“I think this is a brilliant opportunity to learn about the Chinese history,” Mr. Kunert said. “I hardly knew anything [about Shen Yun] walking in, but I’m astounded by the way it’s put together, by the different types of dances, by the culture behind it, by the colors, and it’s mesmerizing, I must say.”
Shen Yun’s unique orchestra combines expressive Chinese instruments over a rich Western orchestral background.
“I just think that the orchestra, which we don’t see, but which is right in the front, is doing a tremendous job bringing out the best in the dances,” Mr. Kunert said.
Reporting by NTD Television and Robin Kemker.
Shen Yun Performing Arts Touring Company will be at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa Jan. 18-20. New York-based Shen Yun has three companies that tour the world each year on a mission to revive 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
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