ROCHESTER, NY—Janet Gane is an actress and educator with a resume that reads like someone who doesn’t need to sleep. On Saturday she took in Shen Yun Performing Arts at Rochester Auditorium and left hard put to name a favourite part.
“That would be very hard to say. I think probably the total feel of it. Not just one piece over another, but the total feel and the way that they’ve made use of so many different dimensions, using the computerized graphics with the back screens and having that interact with the foreground. I think that’s very interesting because in today’s day and age of video games and highly imaginative graphics, I think that makes the audience get engaged in a different way.”
Gane plays three instruments, has worked with Aaron Spelling, and has hosted television shows on shows on Fox and PBS affiliate stations. She’s played some small parts on soap operas, commercials and did an episode of America’s Most Wanted. She’s played larger roles on stage and has worked as a producer, creator and recording artists.
She’s also completed a doctorate in education and after working for companies like Orion, Warner Brothers, and Twentieth Century Fox, now works as an adjunct instructor in the Humanities and General Education departments at Medaille College in Rochester.
“I think it’s very interesting, especially for those of us who aren’t familiar with Chinese culture and history. It’s a very creative way of explaining it through dance and music—very,” she said.
“One of the subjects I teach is critical thinking and creative thinking and that is why I find this particularly of interest, because whenever you can use visuals to communicate an idea, especially the symbology that’s used in this for the music and the art, I think that it’s a far less threatening and intimidating way for all of us to embrace one another’s culture. Very interesting.”
Peter, a friend of 40 years, and her daughter Olivia also joined Ms. Gane that night.
“ I like it quite a bit. It’s a very grand thing that they’re trying to do and show Chinese history over so many years through dance. It could last a lot longer. It’s a very intricate history. It’s very pretty. It’s very interesting and I love dance myself. I’m really enjoying it,” said Peter.
“I like the bright colours and the dancing. It’s so peaceful. It really makes you escape the hectic stressful world. It makes you relax and forget about everything and you feel calm and happy,” added Olivia.
Ms. Gane said she appreciated the fact that Shen Yun tours with an orchestra.
“It’s very rare to have a live orchestra . Very very rare in a show. And it’s a very expensive thing to put with a show. But I think because the music is so different in Chinese culture, it wouldn’t have as much charm as it does being live. I think that makes it incredibly interesting. And I love the fact it’s a female conductor. I love that fact. I thought that was wonderful.”
“I tell you, the costumes are amazing. They’re amazing. I mean truly, truly amazing.”
After its final Rochester performance, Shen Yun will next perform in Philadelphia Feb. 22-23. For more information visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
