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Ajeet Shah and his wife enjoyed Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Fred Kavli Theater. (Albert Roman/The Epoch Times)
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.—Ajeet Shah, an accountant, and his wife, an occupational therapist and former Indian dancer, enjoyed the sold out performance of Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Fred Kavli Theater on Jan. 22.
Mrs. Shah danced as a girl in India. She studied the classical Manipuri dance from eastern India for five years. She said she also learned folk dances and performed in musicals where the story was told through dance. She thought Shen Yun’s dancers also displayed this ability.
“The artists tell the story without even singing or without words,” she said.
The stories behind the dances were particularly interesting for Mr. Shah. “Each segment has something to do with the local history, local culture, and that region. It’s amazing how they put it all together,” he said.
“It takes you to China,” said Mrs. Shah.
Mrs. Shah said the movements in Shen Yun’s dances reminded her of the hand gestures that were used in Indian dances. She said she could sense the spiritual aspect of the performance and very much enjoyed it.
“Music and dance—I believe that’s the best thing to get close to. If you believe in God or the supreme spirituality, music and dance just takes you somewhere, in a different world,” she said.
Mr. Shah said Shen Yun was exciting and engaging. Mrs. Shah thought the handmade costumes were beautiful and elegant.
The couple was very impressed by the skill of the dancers. Mrs. Shah thought the female dancers were beautiful, graceful, and feminine, and they had a very serene expression.
Mr. Shah was amazed at how the male dancers were so buoyant. “Look at them. They can fly,” he said.
Mr. Shah said they would recommend the show to anyone. “If you enjoy dance, if you enjoy music, there is nothing to dislike. You might fall in love because there is nothing to bore you,” he said.
Shen Yun is a New York-based performing arts company that celebrates traditional Chinese culture and the spiritual core within that 5000-year legacy.
The performance focuses on classical Chinese dance, along with folk and ethnic dances, a live orchestra with both traditional Chinese and classical Western instruments, an interactive digital backdrop, and solo vocalists and musicians for one spectacular evening.
Reporting by Albert Roman and Sarah Le.
Shen Yun Performing Arts, based in New York, tours the world on a mission to revive traditional Chinese culture. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
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