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Dr. Klicius and her husband were among the enchanted theatergoers at the Cobb Energy Centre, on Jan. 27, for the opening of Shen Yun Performing Arts in Atlanta. (Mary Silver/The Epoch Times)
ATLANTA—Shen Yun Performing Arts Touring Company gave four performances that were “breathtaking from beginning to the end,” according to Teresa Hewitt, a photographer. She was part of a notably lively and enthusiastic audience. At the final curtain on opening night, the audience gave a standing ovation while one ululated and others whistled and cried “Bravo!” Each show of the series won a standing ovation, and applause, laughter and cries of support broke out repeatedly during the dances and vocal solos.
“Wow, it was wow—I hate to keep saying that,” said Mrs. Hewitt, laughing.
“Shen Yun Performing Arts was born in New York in 2006 with a mission to reclaim and renew the true, divinely-inspired cultural heritage of China,” according to its program book. The “world-class dancers, choreographers, singers, and musicians from around the globe … seek to offer the audience an experience it will always remember.”
“It’s just really an extraordinary, fantastic show, really a pleasure for the soul and the eyes,” said Dr. Klicius, honorary consul of a European country and a medical doctor.
Dr. Klicius said, “The dances are so synchronized, the motions, absolutely out of this world, absolutely a pleasure to see it. I am absolutely delighted and happy to see it.”
Beth Martin, a consultant who worked in diplomatic relations for former President Jimmy Carter at the Carter Center, praised the performance.
Mrs. Martin said Shen Yun was “truly one of the best performances [she’d] ever seen,” citing the dancers’ precision and athleticism, as well as “the visual artistry” and the singing pieces. She said the inner meanings of Shen Yun spoke to her. The performance has “a meaning that’s actually close to our hearts,” she said, referring to the ideas of “self cultivation and realization of truth.” According to the company’s website, China’s 5,000-year-old civilization has a rich history of stories and legends display the values of benevolence, honor, propriety, wisdom, and other virtues.
An acclaimed sculptor who also worked with President Carter said “I thought it was amazing—the blending of the history and the culture and telling it through dance.” Dr. Alyse Lucas Corcoran is an award winning visual artist, scholar, poet, dancer, and former White House staffer. She said, “I made a great effort to come tonight because I thought it would be what it was.” The show lived up to her high expectations, she said.
Lynne Flater, who plays violin in the Georgia Symphony Orchestra, said she was impressed with the Shen Yun Performing Arts Orchestra that accompanies the dances. The unique orchestra combines traditional Chinese instruments into a Western philharmonic orchestra, seamlessly blending the two systems to create a fresh, harmonious sound, according to the program.
It was absolutely beautiful and it was wonderful to see such a robust orchestra pit.
—Lynne Flater, who plays violin in the Georgia Symphony Orchestra
“I love the music. It was absolutely beautiful and it was wonderful to see such a robust orchestra pit so the violins had a lot to play,” said Ms. Flater.
At the matinees, many theatergoers brought children, often dressed in traditional Chinese jackets or dresses. One boy cried out “I’m Monkey King!” and demonstrated a spin, imitating the magical primate. How the Monkey King Came to Be portrays the central character in China’s classic novel Journey to the West, according to the program. His father said the young child had always had a strong interest in Chinese culture and had asked his parents to bring him to Shen Yun.
Mr. Levi Jelks currently has an internship at the well-regarded Horizon Theater in Atlanta.
Mr. Jelks said, “Speaking as a theater person … this is definitely a treasure trove of cultural knowledge that I never even knew before.” He said he admired the way the set design “combined modern set design with classic theatrical performance pieces. It’s just an amazing show, aesthetically and music-wise.”
Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. Shen Yun Performing Arts Touring Company will next perform in Augusta on Tuesday, Jan. 31.
For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts.
