THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.—Cynthia Shapiro, a professional stage dancer, attended Shen Yun Performing Arts’ final performance at the Fred Kavli Theatre, on March 20, with her husband, David.
“Beautiful, absolutely gorgeous,” said Mrs. Shapiro. “It was very good.”
Established in 2006, New York-based Shen Yun is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing 5,000 years of Chinese civilization to life through the performing arts. Widely considered to be a global phenomenon, Shen Yun has reached millions of people across nearly 20 countries and 100 cities.
Having danced professionally for eight years, Mrs. Shapiro paid particular attention to the performance’s dancers.
“Spectacular. Bravo, bravo,” said Mrs. Shapiro. “There all in time, no one’s out of sync. Their toes are pointed, they’re together, they’re all smiling, they’re all happy, the costumes are absolutely gorgeous.”
According to the Shen Yun website, “Chinese dance is at the heart of what Shen Yun does. Know for its incredible flips and spins, and its gentle elegance, it is one of the most rigorous and expressive art forms in the world.”
“They’re very light on their feet, energetic,” added Mr. Shapiro. “They have a … in my opinion, almost a martial arts quality to them.”
“Shen Yun and its mission have drawn top talent from around the world,” states the website, “many artists are winners of international competitions in dance, choreography, and music.”
Mr. Shapiro, a financial advisor, seemed to enjoy the performance just as much as his wife.
“I find it fascinating. It’s energetic, easy to follow,” said Mr. Shapiro. “The orchestra is great.”
Shen Yun’s orchestra blends a Western philharmonic with traditional Chinese instruments. As the website puts it, “the ability to seamlessly blend these two systems to create one fresh, harmonious sound is what makes the Shen Yun Performing Arts Orchestra unique.”
For Mr. and Mrs. Shapiro, Shen Yun appears to have become a new family tradition.
“This is my first time here,” Mrs. Shapiro explained, “and I definitely will always come, every year, if I can afford it.”
Shen Yun’s New York Company will now be moving on to Los Angeles, for performances over the weekend, March 22 and 23, at the Nokia Theatre.
Reporting by Lu Rusong and Morgan Bradley
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
