BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—Shen Yun Performing Arts’s sole performance at the BJCC Concert Hall on Sunday afternoon was well received, with many enthusiastic audience members telling the Epoch Times that they thoroughly enjoyed the performances by the classical Chinese dance and music company.
“I felt it is very important for people in Alabama to understand Chinese culture, and the beauty of Chinese culture and the very rich history,” said audience member Chris Randall, who came to see the performance with his aunt, Judy Chesser.
“[It] made me very proud that people in Alabama can come together and see the dance, the tradition of Chinese people themselves,” Mr. Randall said.
Based in New York, Shen Yun has a mission to revive China’s divinely-inspired culture. The company travels around the world each year with a new line up of exhilarating dance performances, accompanied by soothing music.
Ms. Chesser said it was quite a treat to see Shen Yun.
“The costumes—I know represent also the history—the costuming was so beautiful, and so was telling of the culture,” she said.
“Thank God for [Shen Yun] maintaining that for China. One day, they will want [Shen Yun] to bring it to them,” she said, referring to Shen Yun’s mission to revive China’s traditional culture, which has been all but destroyed under decades of communist rule.
Anita and Charles Hicks, both retired, drove 80 miles to see Shen Yun.
“It was outstanding, delightful, beautiful, [a] spiritual awakening, very graceful,” said Ms. Hicks. “Everything is fantastic.”
Mr. Hicks said he enjoyed the dances, as well as Shen Yun’s use of animated backdrops.
“They were so magnificent,” he said. “The costumes, so colorful and beautiful, and we feel like we’ve learned something about Chinese culture.”
Paul and Nancy Kinnane said they loved the performance.
“Very colorful, very athletic; just splendid, so good,” said Mr. Kinnane.
“I just love the colors. It gives me more understanding of the Chinese culture, the different parts of it, and I love the beliefs they had. It’s just very interesting,” added Ms. Kinnane.
Mr. Kinnane remarked that it must take tremendous effort to put on a performance of Shen Yun’s caliber, and praised the Shen Yun artists for their skills and hard work.
“I am just amazed at the performers. I can imagine how much work goes into the choreography, the staging of this, the timing of it. They are just fabulous performers,” he said.
With reporting by Frank Xie and Omid Ghoreishi
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has four touring companies that perform around the world. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time. We have proudly covered audience reaction since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006
