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Mark Smith and Cindylou attended Shen Yun Performing Arts at the California Center for the Arts at today's matinee, Dec. 29. (Flora Ge/The Epoch Times)
ESCONDIDO, Calif.—Despite rain and clouds in Escondido today, theatergoers felt the radiant glow emitting from the stage as Shen Yun Performing Arts lit up the California Center for the Arts at today’s matinee, Dec. 29.
The New York-based Shen Yun celebrates China’s 5,000-year majestic culture through dance, music, myths and legends, and elaborate authentic costumes. It has as its mission the revival of the divine-inspired culture.
Among the audience were Cindylou Smith who works in insurance and Mark Smith who is in construction.
“I absolutely loved it. It was so beautiful. The costumes were amazing. Just beautiful,” remarked Mrs. Smith, describing the truly exquisite costumes that emphasize harmonic balance and contrast.
Every costume in a Shen Yun performance comes from China’s divinely-inspired traditional culture—from emperors, ministers, and generals to the everyday clothing of the common people. These colorful pieces might include imperial dragon robes, phoenix coronets, and cloud capes, or the ethnic garb of the Manchurian, Tibetan, Dai, and Mongol groups.
Mrs. Smith also commented on the classical Chinese dance, saying, “The strength and the softness, and the way the dancers glided across the stage; they were soft on their feet. I was amazed.”
Classical Chinese dance is built upon a deep foundation of traditional aesthetics, rich with expressive power. Through expression of bearing and form, beautiful dance movements bring out the inner meaning of intrinsic thoughts and feelings, reflecting the peculiarities of human nature, the standard for human conduct, moral concepts, mental state, one’s value system, explains Shen Yun’s website.
Mr. Smith was in agreement, saying, “I loved it to; it was great. I like the athleticism.”
“I sat right in front of the orchestra. I like watching the orchestra; I’ve never done that before, how the music goes with the dance. It’s great,” explained Mr. Smith.
The Shen Yun Orchestra has a unique blend of Western and Eastern instruments. A Western philharmonic orchestra plays the foundation, while traditional Chinese instruments, like the erhu, dizi, pipa, and suona, lead the melodies.
“I definitely want to come next time,” said Mrs. Smith, describing the performance as “magical. It’s magical.
“I can’t wait to get back to work and tell everyone.”
Reporting by Flora Ge and Masha Savitz.
Shen Yun Performing Arts Touring Company will be in Escondido for performances at the California Center for the Arts through Dec. 31.
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
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