DETROIT—Touk Hamian and companion Mara Mamassian were wowed by Shen Yun Performing Arts’ presentation of China’s ancient culture and values at the Detroit Opera House on Saturday evening.
“I enjoyed this presentation, it was beautiful,” said Mr. Hamian, a former producer and director of industrial films who also worked in sales promoting TV commercials.
“The setting was just great and the costuming was just unbelievable. The dancers were just beautiful. I’m very impressed, just overwhelmed with the whole presentation.”
“We got a little bit of everything—the history and the culture. I really appreciated that,” added Ms. Mamassian, an investments associate who previously worked in the film industry.
The dance techniques and choreography impressed Mr. Hamian.
“The choreography is so different, so beautiful, and also you can’t tell the difference whether the music was written for the movements or whether the movements synchronized to the music—that is perfection,” he said.
“The artistic expression was absolutely beautiful,” said Ms. Mamassian. “We appreciated the art, but also the culture that we were exposed to.
Ms. Mamassian worked in the film industry for 20 years as an associate producer and production coordinator and thus has an eye for talent. She also used to be a dancer.
“It all came together,” she said of the performance. “I can’t say enough good things. I think it’s wonderful that we have this opportunity to have exposure to the culture and the art and the art form and the music.”
Shen Yun performances feature award-winning classically trained dancers, operatic soloists, groundbreaking animated backdrops, hundreds of colorful handmade costumes, and a unique orchestra that combines traditional Chinese instruments with a classical Western orchestra.
“It was very well synchronized,” Ms. Mamassian said of the mix of instruments in the orchestra. “I thought the continuity of the synchronization was very well done. It blended well.”
Excellence is part and parcel of Shen Yun’s performances—something Ms. Mamassian noted.
“I actually take Karate so one of the things we learn in Karate is to seek perfection and I think this was very much an example of seeking perfection both with the performers and the performance—everything was perfection,” she said.
Shen Yun was founded in 2006 by a group of leading classical Chinese artists who wished to revive the essence of the true traditional culture of China that has been all but lost following decades of communist rule.
“It’s so nice that people have the opportunity to be exposed to this culture,” said Mr. Hamian.
Ms. Mamassian said she feels the performance could help young people be proud of their own culture.
“In this day and age when there’s so many Western influences, many teenagers want to become more American and they want to blend in and I want to tell them ‘Don’t’ you know? Embrace your culture and your nationality.' I think this gives them the opportunity to be proud and do exactly that.”
Many theatergoers are delighted with Shen Yun’s unique digital animated backdrop, and Ms. Mamassian and Mr. Hamian were no exception.
“That was phenomenal,” said Ms. Mamassian. “It was absolutely phenomenal. I thought the timing of the projection versus live was very impressive.”
“The synchronization was perfect,” added Hamian. “You actually thought he came out of the screen when you know very well that’s not possible. It was very well synchronized with what’s going on on the [stage].”
Reporting by Bo Qin and Paul Darin
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has four touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. Shen Yun’s World Company will perform in Detroit until Feb. 9. 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.
