BOSTON—For Nicholas Phelps and his family Shen Yun Performing Arts was a first encounter with classical Chinese dance, and it left a deep impression on them.
“It is gorgeous. We loved it,” said Mr. Phelps, who is founder and CEO of e-on software. E-on software programs specialize in the creation of natural-environment 3-D graphics and have been used for the production of films like “Avatar.”
Mr. Phelps and his family watched Shen Yun at the Citi Wang Theatre on Feb. 28.
New York-based Shen Yun was founded in 2006 with the mission to revive traditional Chinese culture in the form of music and classical Chinese dance. Millions on five continents have delighted in experiencing Shen Yun’s world-class musicians and dancers ever since.
Mr. Phelps was particularly impressed with the visual side of Shen Yun—a key element of every production.
“We loved the graphic aspect of the dancing: the very bright colors and the dresses and the perfect unity of the movements and very almost mathematical perfection,” he said.
Shen Yun dances depict in short vignettes ancient legends as well modern-day stories.
Mr. Phelps said he was moved by a story from today’s China called The Steadfast Lotus. It shows a daughter and a mother, both adherents of the spiritual practice of Falun Dafa, being persecuted for their faith. “The daughter endures tribulations searching for her mother, until her steadfast faith gives her newfound hope,” according to the program book.
The Chinese communist regime has used Chinese culture for political propaganda and it cannot tolerate the traditional values that are an integral part of an authentic representations of Chinese culture, something Shen Yun stresses in each performance. For this reason, Shen Yun cannot be seen in China today, according to the Shen Yun website.
“The message about how the Chinese culture is being eradicated by the current regime is very strong,” Mr. Phelps said.
For Mr. Phelps and his family, experiencing Chinese culture is a worthwhile discovery, and he said they intend to return next year.
Reporting by NTD Television and Christian Watjen
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.
