SCHENECTADY, N.Y.—On Thursday night, David Cabaniss brought his wife Gloria and young daughter Mina to enjoy Shen Yun Performing Arts at the city’s elegant historic Proctors Theatre.
The world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company was in the city for one night—attracting enthusiastic applause and a standing ovation.
A litigation lawyer, Mr. Cabaniss chairs the Professional Liability Practice Area for Hiscock and Barclay’s, a prominent firm with a team of 200 lawyers in the U.S. and Canada.
Watching Shen Yun’s story-based dances helped Mr. Cabaniss reconnect with his childhood and his love of fairy tales.
The dance Sand Monk is Blessed particularly struck a chord with him. Based on the Chinese classic Journey to the West, the story follows a Buddhist monk and his magical disciples in the quest for sacred scriptures. In this passage, the monk and his disciples the Monkey King and Pigsy, encounter a man-eating ogre, and a spectacular battle ensues.
His young daughter Mina was also happy to have come to see the show. For her, it was the costumes that stood out the most. Shen Yun features hundreds of colorful hand-made costumes, ranging from imperial and celestial attire to vibrant folk costumes and soldiers’ uniforms.
“I liked the costumes because I think they’re really pretty,” she said.
“My favorite part was when the fairies came–the ones with the pink and the green,” she added referring to the dance, Ancient Elegance.
According to the program book description, this is a dance where the fairies “glide like whispers on the wind, skillfully spinning with long silken sleeves.”
Her mother shared her daughter’s feelings.
“I thought it was beautiful,” she said.
Mrs. Cabaniss was also impressed by the overall visuals of the performance, noting that the colors of the performance made her feel happy.
In addition to the costumes, Shen Yun features dynamic state-of-the-art backdrops designed “to complement and synchronize all aspects of the performance,” according to the company website.
Mr. Cabaniss also commented on the cultural immersion provided by Shen Yun.
“You felt you’re learning something about a different culture, and being exposed to something different, so it’s a nice experience,” he said.
Shen Yun Performing Arts, based in New York, tours the world on a mission to revive traditional Chinese culture. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
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.
Shen Yun Performing Arts’s last scheduled performances for this season are in Chicago on May 10-12 and Syracuse, May 12.
