NEW YORK—Distinct music, vivid colors, and talented performers impressed Janet Soule, when she saw the performance by Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company, at the Lincoln Center on Jan. 15.
Speaking during intermission, Soule, a strategist and CEO working in the real estate industry, said, “I think it was wonderful so far, I think the music is wonderful, the artists are talented, it’s colorful, it’s quite telling.”
Through classical Chinese dance, folk dances, and music, Shen Yun brings to life traditional legends, folktales, and vignettes of contemporary China.
Based in New York, the mission of Shen Yun is to bring a renaissance of traditional Chinese culture, which has been pushed to near extinction by communist ideology over the past 60 years.
Shen Yun dances are accompanied by a full orchestra that blends Western and Eastern instruments—no easy feat since Western and Eastern instruments normally tune to different musical scales.
Soule also appreciated the bilingual emcees who introduced the pieces and explained their significance.
“I appreciated the announcers, you know, talking a little bit introducing each piece before it was shown,” she said.
The animated digital backdrop was another highlight. Embracing the modern age, Shen Yun uses state-of-the-art graphics technology to bring to life various characters, such as heroes, deities, and a giant fish last year, and this year, a demon king. The animation also depicts beautiful scenery that gives a sense of place and mood to the dance and music pieces.
“I especially think the way the cinematography, you know [the way] they work the background into the performance with the telling of the stories was quite nice.” Soule said.
A Fairy Tale
Also in attendance that evening was Carlos Marcado, who retired from a career as a cruise ship performer onboard the Norwegian Cruise Line. Mr. Marcado trained and performed at other venues in Chicago.
Being a performer himself, and having seen many performances in his lifetime while residing in New York, Mr. Marcado said the arts scene had become somewhat monotonous. “This is all new to me, and refreshing,” Mr. Marcado said of Shen Yun.
Numerous Shen Yun mini-drama pieces depict scenes from well-known stories and legends like Journey to the West and “Monkey King.” The dances are accompanied by animated backdrops that synchronize all aspects of the performance.
“I feel like not only have I gone to a fairy tale, but what a lovely everything,” he said.
Shen Yun’s three equally large groups tour the world simultaneously every year, presenting an all new show.
“I love it, and I will come again,” Mr. Marcado said.
Reporting by Aric Chen, June Fakkert, and Kristina Skorbach
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.
