WASHINGTON—A week after China’s paramount leader Hu Jintao was received here, for a state visit dominated by talk of business and trade, another China was on display at the Kennedy Center. Performances by Shen Yun, a classical Chinese dance company, were recognized by Washington audiences as the truer representation of the Chinese people.
“It was a really remarkable performance. It was wonderful to see the dance and the culture of China… the wonderful dancing and music, of course. Extraordinary!” said retired Admiral Tom Marfiak, former Head of the US Naval War College and Senior Associate at Burdeshaw Associates.
Mr. Marfiak said that he thought most Americans have very little idea of other cultures and he felt “it’s important for all of us to be aware of the other cultures.”
He said he felt that Shen Yun had made many contributions to Western society, particularly by giving a sense of universality.
“Shen Yun shows that the music and the dance are contemporaneous across cultures. The energy of youth, the excitement of dancing and so on is a global experience. We have these common interests that we can work out together. I think it does a great job of conveying that,” Mr. Marfiak said.
Shen Yun performed at the Kennedy Center Opera House Jan. 26-30.
