GREENVILLE, S.C.—Franchezka Westwood, a jewelry artist, attended Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Peace Center on March 1 with her daughter, also named Franchezka Westwood. The pair truly enjoyed the show.
New York-based Shen Yun is on its 2012 world tour, reviving the 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture, lost under communist rule in China.
“A performance by Shen Yun is a presentation of traditional Chinese culture as it once was: a study in grace, wisdom, and the virtues distilled from the five millennia of Chinese civilization,” according to Shen Yun’s website.
Mrs. Westwood said she found Shen Yun’s performance “beautiful, full of colors, nice movements, very good variation, very attractive, very nice and a good performance.”
According to Mrs. Westwood’s website, her jewelry design expertise lies with metal chain soldering, pearl knotting, metal fabrication, weaving beads, cuttlefish carving and casting, mokume gane and twisted wire.
“She enjoys teaching all those techniques in her studio, in bead stores, and at Furman University,” according to her website.
Her daughter, Ms. Westwood, a project manager for Gibbs International, said, “I think it is amazing. The dances are beautiful … which I love. I can’t wait to see more!”
Mrs. Westwood said with awe, “The music!”
Included in Shen Yun’s performances are instrumental and vocal soloists who use of bel canto technique while singing Chinese lyrics. All the compositions are original “brimming with philosophical reflection about human life and deep layers of meaning, they traverse the boundaries of nation, race, and culture,” according to Shen Yun’s website.
Her daughter agreed, saying, “Yes. The music is amazing.”
“It’s awesome.”
“You know what else is interesting, when they are singing the classic music you can read what they are singing. That is all so good, that is all so good. ... I am happy to be here,” said Mrs. Westwood.
Ms. Westwood said that her friends “have to come, they have to. It is a must see show.”
“Yes, of course!” said Mrs. Westwood.
Reporting by Kelly Ni.
Shen Yun Performing Arts, based in New York, tours the world on a mission to revive traditional Chinese culture. Shen Yun Performing Arts Touring Company will perform three shows in Tampa, Florida, at The David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts on March 3-4.
For more information visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
