SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun’s Renewal of Traditional Chinese Culture Is Very Important, Gives Hope, Says Theatergoer

Apr 08, 2023
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Shen Yun’s Renewal of Traditional Chinese Culture Is Very Important, Gives Hope, Says Theatergoer
Mark Mato attends Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Thrasher-Horn Center at St. Johns River State College, in Orange Park, Fla., on April 8, 2023. (Lily Yu/The Epoch Times)

ORANGE PARK, Fla.—“It was wonderful!” Mark Mato, an instructional systems designer, said after experiencing Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Thrasher-Horn Center at St. Johns River State College on April 8.

“It really was. The execution and skill both in timing and in grace are both excellent,” he said.

Based in New York, Shen Yun was founded in 2006 and is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company. Now with eight equally-sized companies touring the world simultaneously, Shen Yun’s mission is to revive traditional Chinese culture.

Mr. Mato was impressed by Shen Yun’s patented animated backdrop, which allows performers to move between the stage and the background, taking its storytelling to a whole new level. He also praised the performers’ professionalism and the effortlessness of their movements.

“I like the timing between when the performers [disappear] into the screen and when they came back out,” he said. “I thought technically that was very proficient.

“The professionalism of the dancers and their timing, you can see what they’re doing is extremely difficult. And to hold those in such a perfect balance for an extended period of time is very difficult. It was incredible to see them do it and make it look effortless!”

Mr. Mato shared what he particularly liked was the message of renewal in Shen Yun’s performance, and also expressed his support for Shen Yun’s mission.
“I liked the fact that you can see the balance between good and evil, and how evil is trying to work to destroy everything; he good is doing and the renewal of that in the end. I liked that very much. It was very good.”
He also said, “I think that the balance and harmony of nature which was original [to the way humans live] should be brought to life. I think that’s extraordinarily important.

“I think what’s happening now is that we are seeing a certain branding of Chinese people and it does not speak for everyone. I think it’s very important to have that renewal, definitively … I think it gives hope.”

Mr. Mato said that he will be returning to the theatre to watch Shen Yun again next year, and that he will be telling his friends and family about the performance.
Reporting by Lily Yu and Wandi Zhu.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.

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