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Retired lawyer Bob Sadler and his mother-in-law attend Shen Yun in Sacramento on Jan. 3. (Christian Watjen/The Epoch Times)
SACRAMENTO, Calif.—Shen Yun Performance Arts, based in New York and traveling around the world with the mission of reviving ancient Chinese culture through dance and music, earned praise from audience members after a set of full house performances at Community Center Theatre.
A retired lawyer and his mother-in-law enjoyed a Shen Yun performance they watched on Jan. 3.
Mr. Bob Sadler appreciated Shen Yun’s dance pieces.
“The colors were magnificent; the dancing was wonderful,” he said.
At the core of Shen Yun’s program is classical Chinese dance, one of the most complex art forms in existence.
“Other than complete training in the fundamentals, it also entails systematic training in movements and postures, as well as very difficult jumping and tumbling techniques,” states Shen Yun’s website. “And so, alongside ballet, classical Chinese dance is one of the most comprehensive dance systems in the world.”
Mr. Sadler was accompanied by his mother-in-law. Despite being 95 years old and having limited eyesight from macular degeneration, she enjoyed the show as well. “Their dancing is beautiful,” she said. “It really was beautiful.”
Reggie Liepsic who attended the performance with a friend and blown away by the backdrop in Shen Yun. (Gary Wang/The Epoch Times)
‘See the whole picture’
Reggie Liepsic, a retired director at Scotts Fertilizer, also attended the performance.
Mr. Liepsic enjoyed the coordination between the dancers, the color, and the music.
Shen Yun’s performance has several mini-dramas that draw upon the stories and legends that span China’s vast history.
“A unique feature of Chinese civilization is that its history has been documented and passed down uninterrupted for 5,000 years, sometimes in vivid detail,” according to the company’s website. “This provides Shen Yun with vast source material, making it possible to revive this ancient culture on a present-day stage.”
The stories intrigued Mr. Liepsic, who attended the performance with a friend. “We’re both very impressed,” he said.
When telling his family about the performance, he will describe “how creative the stories are, and inventive.”
“And they do tell the story through dance,” he said.
Shen Yun’s orchestra, which combines both classical Western and traditional Chinese instruments, was also enjoyed by Mr. Liepsic.
At first, he said, he wasn’t happy with the seats he had gotten in the top tier, but when he got there and the performance started he realized that he had a wonderful view.
“I get to see more than if I was down on the floor,” he said, “to see the whole picture.”
Reporting by Christian Watjen, Zachary Stieber, and Gary Wang.
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. Shen Yun’s Touring Company will be performing in San Jose through Jan. 6. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
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