TAINAN, Taiwan—The third leg of Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company’s Asia Tour began in Taiwan on March 7. In attendance for the first show in Tainan were Chung-Chin Tsai, CEO of Kaiser Pharmaceutical, and Rotary Club chief of staff at District 3470, and his wife. Mr. Tsai said, “This performance is a spiritual feast with every single aspect done to perfection.”
At intermission, Mr. Tsai praised the performance, saying that even just the first-half was already full of exciting programs. “From the very first program, different historical stories, legends, ethnic dances by Chinese minorities, and theatrical drama were telling a lively story from classical literature. It was absolutely amazing.”
Mrs. Tsai was likewise all praise for the performance, saying, “In all, the design of the programs, the arrangement with the backdrop, and the skillful dancers, I was deeply impressed.”
The artistic depiction by the animated backdrop was another aspect that Mrs. Tsai enjoyed. She said, “Every single program is very good, very colorful, especially the colorful animated backdrops. It was pure joy from the bottom of my heart.”
After seeing the authentic Chinese dance, Mr. Tsai felt there was a unique quality to Chinese culture. He said, “For strength and beauty, there is a special artistic meaning behind them, which are different from Western culture. Performances in the West are quite joyful. Yet, there are deeper meanings to the Chinese [performances]. I think these are completely different.”
The New-York based company’s mission is to revive 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, a divinely inspired culture with many aspects that are not allowed to be freely presented in China today.
Mr. Tsai said that the Shen Yun production successfully combined different elements, different dynasties, and different stories. He particularly noted the dance piece that depicted the spirit of Falun Dafa practitioners and their unwavering adherence to their faith, even under persecution.
‘Divine Performance’
Ms. Chen praised Shen Yun’s performance, saying it was really amazing. She said that the dancers’ body movements were lithe and their postures exquisite. Their smiles blended beautifully with the dancing, so that it really did deserve the name “divine performance,” she said.
Ms. Chen was formerly the program producer and hostess of the Broadcasting Corporation of China (BCC) News, and the BCC Formosa Network. She said that Shen Yun’s two masters of ceremony worked very well together and she liked the way they introducing each program, explaining Chinese culture and history.
She said she felt relaxed watching the dance Sleeves of Silk in which “acting as extensions of a dancer’s arms, these sleeves linger in the air long after a movement is finished. The effect is akin to fluttering wings or trailing ripples, a visual echo of the performer as she glides from one movement to the next,” says the program booklet.
“Because the silk in the dance Sleeves of Silk was so light and soft, my imagination was truly extended, seeing the silk floating above the entire stage,” she said.
As a performing arts lover, Ms. Chen enjoyed every aspect of the performance. She said: “The dancers’ jumps were like they were flying down from heaven; the costumes matched perfectly with the scenes in every dance program; there were also some playful actions during the dances. Everything was really amazing! The dances, the backdrops, and the music played by the live orchestra. Wow! I could tell everything was well planned and the performers have gone through arduous training.”
Ms. Chen commented on the dance program The Dafa Practitioner’s Magical Encounter. She became teary as she recalled the scene of violent oppression at the hands of Chinese police. Shen Yun draws upon China’s 5,000 years of culture, including human rights stories depicting the persecution of Falun Gong, an ancient mind-body practice that is still persecuted in China today.
Ms. Chen said she would come and see the performance again next year, and would also share her experience of Shen Yun with her family and friends so that they too can enjoy the unique performance.
Reporting by Yang Qiulian & Frank Fang and Yourong Lai & Joseph Wu.
Shen Yun Performing Arts, based in New York, tours the world on a mission to revive traditional Chinese culture. Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company will perform in seven cities in Taiwan until April 8 and then continue to top venues in Australia and New Zealand.
For more information visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
Read the original Chinese article
Read the original Chinese article
Friends Read Free