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WASHINGTON, D.C.—Shen Yun Performing Arts graced the stage at the Kennedy Center Opera House on Wednesday evening.
Steven Wendt, an environmental consultant and artist, said he appreciated, “the colors, the flow, the contrasting colors,” after in the performance.
Mr. Wendt’s artistry is mostly in painting, including Chinese and Japanese painting. He also does still life and other arts.
New York-based Shen Yun, which presents classical Chinese dance and music, also features other artistic elements that make it quite unique, including colourful handmade costumes, animated digital backdrops, and an orchestra that melds classical Western and traditional Chinese instruments.
For 5,000 years, the divinely inspired Chinese culture has helped many people learn how to live in an upright manner, including teachings from the sage Lao Zi and Confucius, according to Shen Yun’s website.
Shen Yun draws upon the vast number of legends and stories that span Chinese history, “from the Yellow Emperor and through the Tang and Song dynasties and all the way to the modern day,” according to the company’s website. “In less than ten minutes each, Shen Yun dances recount ancient myths, bygone heroes, or celestial paradises.”
Mr. Wendt said the colors of the performance stood out to him, including the “beautiful pinks and oranges.”
As an artist, Mr. Wendt felt the digitally animated backdrops play an essential role in the story telling. “I love the backdrop; it gave it so much depth, and I really, really enjoyed how the characters would disappear and reappear,” he said. With seamless transition characters on screen appear to become dancers who come onto the stage at just the right time.”It helped tell the story,” he said.
One story depicted in this year’s performance is a legend told of the famed Shaolin monastery.
Mr. Wendt said he found that piece very entertaining.
“It has lot of depth because it does tell the stories,” he said. “I liked it very much.”
Reporting by NTD Television and Gary Feuerberg
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. Shen Yun New York Company is performing in Washington D.C. at the Kennedy Center Opera House from Jan 30 -- Feb 3 For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
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