ST. LOUIS—New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts played at the Peabody Opera House in St. Louis on Sunday, Feb. 19, and Kevin and Kathy Leuders attended. “What I’m impressed with is the costumes, the colors, the timing, the athleticism,” Mr. Leuders said.
Mr. Leuders had never attended a cultural show like Shen Yun’s, a performing arts company that aims to revitalize 5,000 years of Chinese dance and music.
Shen Yun specializes in presenting classical Chinese dance, one of the most technical demanding and yet expressive dance forms in the world, according to the company’s website.
Mr. Leuders owns a medical distribution company called Bell Medical, just outside of St. Louis.
“Actually my mother and I, we were going to go to a ballet and then we saw this,” he said, referring to an advertisement. “So my mother brought the tickets,” he explained. He also explained that his mother, unfortunately, could not attend and so he brought his wife.
“So we‘ll go back and I’ll try to express what it was like to my mom. I think she would have really enjoyed it. We really liked the dancing; I mean that’s what it’s all about,” he said.
Mrs. Leuders enjoyed the performance as well. “I agree with him,” she said and emphasized that the synchronicity of the performance impressed her.
“It’s amazing how much time they must put into getting every move exactly the same,” she said.
She was also impressed by the digital backdrop which allows figures to fly back and forth from the heavens, and then appear on stage in the form of the live performers.
“The timing where they come down,” Mr. Leuders said, and Mrs. Leuders joined in, “Yes, that’s really cool how they time it and jump up. That’s really fun … It’s been great.”
Reporting by Valerie Avore and Sharon Kilarski.
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. Shen Yun Performing Arts Touring Company will next perform in Denver on Feb. 22 and 23 at The Buell Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex.
For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
