WATERBURY, Conn.—Classical Chinese dance company Shen Yun Performing Arts dazzled audience members in Connecticut on Thursday, drawing heaps of praise.
Walter and Wynn Herrmann, the former owners of a printing press company, said they were impressed with the overall effect provided by Shen Yun’s dancing and music.
“The dancers were just outstanding. It was wonderful,” Mrs. Herrmann said after viewing the performance at the Palace Theater.
Shen Yun seeks to revive and spread traditional Chinese culture through dance and music—using bright colors, costumes, and stage props to convey stories and legends passed down throughout China’s history, the New York-based company’s website states.
Ms. Herrmann described the music—which is provided by a unique orchestra that joins together Western classical and Chinese instrumentation—as “outstanding.”
“All the instruments they put together was great. Very very nice,” she said.
In the orchestra, Western classical music serves as the base, with some of Chinese instruments taking the lead. The music accompanies each dance piece in Shen Yun.
Mrs. Herrmann said they attended the performance to celebrate Valentine’s Day. “We thought this would be more memorable,” she said, adding that when Shen Yun comes back to Connecticut, she and her husband will “certainly” go to it.
According to the company’s website, Shen Yun features some of the world’s best classically trained dancers, using classical Chinese dance as their main form of expression. The company includes a significant amount of Chinese spirituality, which has been influenced by Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism to present the more inner meanings of traditional Chinese culture.
Reporting by Hannah Cai and Jack Phillips.
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
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