ISTANBUL—Shen Yun in Istanbul was met with showers of applause on Saturday, May 22, at the Lutfi Kirdar Congre Centre’s Anadolu Auditorium. The audience responded warmly during as well as after the dances, and the arias of the bel canto singers were met with resounding applause. At the show’s end, a standing ovation greeted Shen Yun.
Alev Copur, a graphic designer, was among the audience. He said he had done some online research before the show, and he only knew a little about Shen Yun. After seeing Shen Yun during the Saturday matinee, his expectations had been exceeded. He shared, “I didn’t know much about this—I heard about it and I came—and it was actually fantastic!”
Mr. Copur spoke of “a sense of the balance in the show,” and beamed, “I´m impressed!”
According to the official website of Shen Yun, classical Chinese dance is noted for its extensive training, which includes aerial movements such as “a wealth of high-flying dives, dexterous leaps, and diverse spins.” Alongside these techniques is the depth with which dancers who have mastered the techniques are able to portray not only “a given figure’s disposition or mood, but even the vivid expressions unique to a certain age, whatever the land or time.”
Perhaps this depth was what Mr. Copur spoke of when he said that what most impressed him was “the idea of the show.” As a professional visual artist, he spoke of Shen Yun’s powerful ability to reach an audience member and evoke a sense of narrative, saying, “With images you see that make a special sense when they come together, it creates a story with the faces and the dances. That hit me in the heart!”
