TAMPA, Fla.—Susan Sisk attended the sold-out Sunday matinee performance of Shen Yun Performing Arts Touring Company in Tampa.
Ms. Sisk, a ballet teacher, began her dance training at age four, and graduated from the University of South Florida with a B.A. in dance, according to her dance academy’s web site. She was impressed by the classical Chinese danced presented by Shen Yun, and commented on the movements of the dancers.
“Beautiful!” she said of the performance. “With my eyes I’m watching every little movement [of the dancers]. It’s very interesting. I can see the differences in the training,” she added.
Classical Chinese dance incorporates systematic training in movements and postures, in addition to thorough training in dance fundamentals. The main components of classical Chinese dance are bearing, form, and technical skill, according to the Shen Yun website.
Technical skill involves jumping, turning, leaping, and flipping techniques. Form refers to the coordination and expression of the movements. Bearing emphasizes the inner spirit that leads and fills the form.
Ms. Sisk said she could relate to “some of the positions, definitely the jumps, definitely the strength, the power, especially in the female dancers—beautiful,” said Ms. Sisk. “Very intriguing, very interesting.”
The Shen Yun dancers perform to the music of the company’s unique, live orchestra, which combines Eastern musical instruments such as the pipa, gong, and erhu with classical Western symphonic instruments.
“Love all of it, beautiful,” said Ms. Sisk. “The music is just so peaceful, calming. I really like it, all of it.”
Reporting by Marie Yeung and Michelle Brazeau.
Based in New York, Shen Yun Performing Arts mission is to bring to life 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture. Shen Yun Performing Arts Touring Company will next perform in Memphis, Tenn., at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, on March 6 and 7.
For more information, please visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
