MINNEAPOLIS—“Their passion for understanding the cultural history is critical,” Dr. Sam Carlson, after watching Shen Yun Performing Arts, a company with a mission to restore 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture. “I think we all need to know where we come from and how we have reached the position in terms of thinking and reflection that we have.”
“Through the universal language of music and dance, Shen Yun weaves a wondrous tapestry of heavenly realms, ancient legends, and modern heroic tales,” according to the company’s website.
Dr. Carlson saw New York-based Shen Yun at the Orpheum Theatre on Valentine’s Day with his wife, Barbara.
Once regularly selected “Top Doctor” in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Dr. Carlson is now a consultant for Rona Consulting Group, which serves healthcare and related industries.
Shen Yun aspires to present the values and spiritual nature of China’s ancient culture, something Dr. Carlson could see in the performance: “Their view of spirituality and religion, reincarnation, … represented the great the symmetry and connection between nature and the human form, between the sea and the land, the air and land.”
As for the quality of the performance, Dr. Carlson enjoyed the live orchestra, having been trained in classical piano.
Mrs. Carlson thought the costumes were gorgeous. The hundreds of handmade costumes span ethnic groups and dynasties and audience acclaim their vibrancy.
She runs a non-profit called Putting Family First … “It’s really to remind families about the importance of the connection between parents and children,” she explained. Mrs. Carlson co-authored a book by the same title.
“I’m impressed by the integration of the video technology and the dancers. It’s really extremely well done,” Dr. Carlson said.
Designed to provide vivid context to each story-dance, the high-tech backdrops interact seamlessly with the dancers on stage.
Both agreed that the athleticism of the dancers was amazing.
The couple came to the performance because Dr. Carlson thought it would be a good way to understand bit more about China’s history and its culture.
The two are Scandinavian in background, Dr. Carlson feels it important to “understand more deeply the origins and assumptions of other cultures.”
Reporting by Valerie Avore and Sharon Kilarski
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has four touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit Shen Yun Performing Arts.
The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time. We have proudly covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.
