WASHINGTON, D.C.—Elena Indrokova Jones is the artistic director and choreographer of a dance company Four Season Dancers which promotes traditional ethnic dances. On Jan. 28, she walked out of the Kennedy Center’s
Shen Yun Performing Arts’ matinee singing the praises of these New York-based dancers.
“Beautiful. It’s beautiful,” Ms. Jones said. With over 20 years of stage experience and training from Russia’s premier ballet academies, Ms. Jones said she recognized serious classical training when she saw it and admired that of
Shen Yun dancers. She said the dancers worked together as if they were one, dancing with clean lines and beautifully executed jumps—and in beautiful costumes.
New York-based
Shen Yun was formed in 2006 and quickly became the world’s top classical Chinese dance company. Today, the performing arts group with a mission to present “China before communism” has become a global sensation.
Through dance,
Shen Yun shows the wide range of ethnic and folk traditions in
China, as well as ancient myths, legends, virtues, and heroes.
“I like these sleeves, mountains, rivers,” Ms. Jones said. Then she quipped, “I think maybe I will steal something.”
Maria Royals, formerly a professional dancer, was also impressed with the caliber of Shen Yun’s dance.
“I’m a dancer myself, so I see all the technique that the dancers are showing in the choreography, and the precision is very, very good,” she said. “The dancers are beautiful, they’re beautiful, very professional.”
Ms. Royals was interested to learn that
Shen Yun was based in New York; she had an enjoyable afternoon learning more about traditional Chinese culture.
“I didn’t know that,” she said. “The history is really interesting to me; ... it’s really interesting to learn about the culture.”
Stewart Royals, director of field operations, said he initially thought it was a group from China.
“I didn’t know that this show cannot be shown in China. So I think it’s taken the Chinese culture to the world, and it’s a great thing,” Mr. Royals said. He said that prior to the performance, he knew little about China today save for the fact that it is a communist country. Shen Yun gave him an eye-opening experience.
“I'll tell [my friends], come see it, it’s great, it’s great. It’s beautiful,” he said.
Reporting by Frank Liang and Weiyong Zhu.
