NEW YORK—Watching Shen Yun Performing Arts’ opening performance at the Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater on Jan. 10 was an inspirational and visually enticing experience for Jason Phillip, creative director of photography at Macy’s.

“It was really inspiring, very beautiful, emotional, and very visually enticing. It was particularly inspiring that we were watching traditional Chinese culture, and dance, and music that can’t be seen in China,” said Mr. Phillip, after watching the performance.

Shen Yun was founded in New York in 2006 with the mission to revive 5,000 years of divinely inspired Chinese culture, much of which has been lost under Chinese communist rule.

“To be part of that expression here in the U.S., it feels like a bit of an honor,” said Mr. Phillip.

Mr. Phillips said that being in a creative industry, he found the dance, the colors, and the emotions expressed in the stories portrayed to be inspiring. He also spoke about the unique and intricate digital backdrops used in the performance.

Shen Yun uses state-of-the-art graphics technology in its performances, which create vividly animated backdrops.

“I like the interplay between the digital—which feels very new and modern—and the traditional dance. I thought the two were done very nicely. The pace is also quick and fluid,” said Mr. Phillips.

In one particular segment, which Mr. Phillips describes as being his favorite in terms of visual impact, a pink lotus is juxtaposed against the blue sky. “It was very simple, graphic, and powerful. I thought it was really beautiful,” said Mr. Phillips.

Aside from its core presentation of classical Chinese dance, Shen Yun performances feature music by the Shen Yun orchestra, which is unique in the world in that it features both classical Chinese and Western instruments, as well as solo singers.

“There’s something about the solo sopranos that really moved me. I thought it was really beautiful and touching,” he said.

Mr. Phillips said he would describe the performance to his friends as “Dynamic, emotional, colorful, and very beautiful.”

By NTD Television and Jasper Fakkert

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.