NEW YORK—Sculptor and painter Carole Eisner, who saw Shen Yun Performing Arts at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch theater on Thursday night, said the handmade costumes beautifully accompanied the dance and music.
“Very beautiful, flowing, colorful,” said Ms. Eisner. “They work very well with the dance.”
Ms. Eisner graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, and has had her sculptures publicly presented in places from France to New York.
In several dances long, flowing sleeves become part of the dance itself, which Ms. Eisner said she appreciated.
For instance, in “Ancient Elegance,” a group of fairies dance. “Light and lovely, they glide like whispers on the wind, skillfully spinning with long silken sleeves,” reads Shen Yun’s program book. “Their dainty steps and delicate forms evoke the epitome of feminine grace.”
Shen Yun, a New York-based company, crisscrosses the globe reviving China’s 5,000 year-old culture, including myths and legends from across eras and dynasties. At the heart of Shen Yun is classical Chinese dance, an art form that is equally thousands of years which gave rise to other branches of movement such as gymnastics.
Ms. Eisner said the dancers were very beautiful and very athletic.
Ms. Eisner and a group of friends go to the New York City ballet together, so they decided to attend Shen Yun to experience Chinese culture and dance.
One friend, Mari Stadler, who takes care of a private art collection, said she enjoyed the performance, particularly the story-based dances.
Stories told this year include one about Yang Zhi, an exceptional fighter who is described in the classic novel “Outlaws of the Marsh,” and “When Shaolin Monks Protected the Emperor,” which sheds light on why monks at the Shaolin monastery eat meat while most other monks do not.
Reporting by Andrea Hayley and Zachary Stieber
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
Shen Yun Performing Arts is performing at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center through April 28.
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.
