LAS VEGAS—Thunderous applause and a standing ovation concluded Shen Yun’s March 17 matinee in Las Vegas. Col. Frank Thiene, retired from the Air Force, attended the performance with his wife, Marilyn, a retired teacher. The whole setup was beautiful,” Mr. Thiene said.
The colors of the performance caught a great deal of their attention. Mrs. Thiene said that the costumes were very beautiful.
Col. Thiene was particularly fascinated with how fast the performers had to change their costumes between the dances.
“I honestly spent a good deal of thought trying to figure out how they changed so quickly. Because they did, they had to,” he said, with a relaxed laugh.
The costumes involved in a Shen Yun performance usually number around 400, according to Shen Yun’s website. Besides Han Chinese clothing, there are also heavenly regalia and attire of China’s different ethnic groups.
Col. Thiene said he also enjoyed the music very much. Vocal solos with piano accompaniment are part of the music in Shen Yun.
“The music was beautiful. I really enjoyed the piano. Whoever played the piano did an absolutely beautiful job, he said.
It surprised him that Shen Yun tours with its own orchestra. “Are they part of the pack? They come with the company?” he said. It’s unusual for a traveling dance company to offer a full philharmonic orchestra, but Shen Yun does.
Retired Marine Corps Colonel Robert Stitzer and his fiancé Akemi attended the same matinee. They own a Japanese sushi restaurant in Bally’s Casino.
“I think the dancing is outstanding. The choreography is beautiful. It’s just a beautiful experience,” Col. Stitzer said.
Having traveled to 30 countries, Col. Stitzer enjoyed seeing the digitally projected scenery. He said, “The scenery in the background is beautiful.”
Shen Yun uses digital technology to create animated backdrops, which transform the stage into different times and spaces, such as heavenly realms and different regions and historical periods of China.
Regarding the whole performance, Akemi said she had never seen anything like it.
Col. Stitzer was grateful that Shen Yun performed in Las Vegas.
“My response to the entire show, to the cast and people who brought it here, xie xie [Thank you]!”
Reporting by Lu Rusong, Teresa Oh and Maria Chow.
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company is scheduled to perform at the SHN Orphum Theatre in San Francisco Mar. 20-24. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
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