ATLANTA—One of the business leaders who made Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre happen came to see Shen Yun perform there on Jan. 4.
Brian Brockel said he found Shen Yun Performing Arts’ dance “beyond my abilities to comprehend, because they were doing things I didn’t think humans could do, but they are very talented and I’m enjoying it.” Classical Chinese dance uses “very difficult jumping and tumbling techniques,” according to the Shen Yun website.
Mr. Brockel was Chief Operating Officer of Cobb Energy EMC, one of the nation’s largest energy cooperatives. “When we made the agreement with the Cobb Galleria Authority about five years ago to purchase the naming rights to this facility, and that’s how I was involved. It’s a beautiful facility,” said Mr. Brockel about his connection to the venue.
The multi-million dollar naming rights purchase was a substantial part of funding the state of the art theater. Mr. Brockel said he felt pleased about how much the venue has done for the city and for the region. It has has enriched the northern suburb, drawing the Atlanta Opera, the ballet, and national and international artists on tour. He often comes to events there, but this was the first time he had experienced Shen Yun. He found it absorbing.
“It’s absolutely amazing, the music, the creativity, the history of China that I’m learning from, and just the overall ability and talent of the performers is just mesmerizing me,” said Mr. Brockel.
The Shen Yun orchestra, for each of the four performances, evoked a strong response from the audience. Mr. Brockel has a personal affinity for orchestral music, because his 13-year old son is studying the violin. He said, “The orchestra is amazing. I have a new found interest for it.” Since his son is playing with his middle school group, he has been attending his performances, and said it’s “interesting for me to see how it all comes together now, with the different strings, and the horns, and percussion.”
When the curtain rose, he got a surprise. “I did not know they would have the … video screen behind it, which tells the history and story, and brings everything to life beyond what the dancers were doing,” said Mr. Broekel, referring to Shen Yun’s use of state-of-the art animated digital backdrops projected behind the dancers that set the scene and interact with the dances on stage. When the curtain rose at the beginning, and after the intermission, audience members gasped and exclaimed at the sight.
He plans to make Shen Yun part of his future. “It is my first time … but I'll come again,” said Mr. Brockel.
Reporting by Frank Xie and Mary Silver
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has four touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
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.
