PROVIDENCE, R.I.—Tom Sullivan, a consultant and former executive with major corporations in the United States, said after seeing Shen Yun Performing Arts, “I feel enriched by it.”
He saw Shen Yun at the Providence Performing Arts Center on Sunday with his wife, Elaine. Mr. Sullivan said he did not realize how rooted the ancient Chinese culture is in spirituality.
The New York-based company travels the world reviving 5,000 years of Chinese culture, a culture said to be divinely inspired.
Shen Yun’s website describes the performance: “Mortals and divine beings merge on stage as one. Principles such as benevolence and justice, propriety and wisdom, respect for the heavens, and divine retribution, all come to life, washing over the audience. Originating from Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, these ideals are the essence of traditional Chinese culture.”
Mr. Sullivan was impressed by the varied aspects of Chinese culture. Shen Yun stages mainly classical Chinese dance, its dances and stories take the audience on a journey through the dynasties and regions of China. Classical Chinese dance is itself rich and intricate, a precise art developed over thousands of years.
“Everything was terrific,” he said. “I love the presentation, the audiovisual is great.”
This display of ancient culture makes good use of modern technology, with a unique digitally animated backdrop. The colorful backdrop brings the viewer through ancient courts to idyllic countryside scenes of yore.
Mrs. Sullivan was also impressed by the backdrop, and particularly with how the dancers interact with it in sometimes surprising ways.
In between some of the story-based dances, singers perform solos. Mr. Sullivan said the soprano and baritone were powerful and poetic, beautiful singers. The words of their songs, though sung in Chinese, were translated on the backdrop.
Mr. Sullivan said, overall, he came away with “a deeper understanding.”
Reporting by NTD Television and Tara MacIsaac
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has four touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit Shen Yun Performing Arts.
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.
