“The technicalities—this stuff is really difficult … I can recognize those … turns and the number in a row was just amazing and all of the leaps—we call them stag leaps and star jumps and the defying [of] gravity—the amount that they are able to leap off the floor. It was amazing and they make it look so easy and it’s just like gravity isn’t a problem to them.
“From a dancer’s perspective, that’s probably what I appreciated most—in addition to everything—all of the movement moving around the stage in a straight line is one of the hardest things [and] could be obstacles for dancers, especially this number, the quantity of dancers. To be able to stay that succinct and that precise was definitely the highest quality that I don’t even think we see in America. So it’s very refreshing and kind of exhilarating to see it,” she said.
Accompanying the classical Chinese dancers are original compositions, played by Shen Yun’s own touring orchestra comprised of both Chinese and Western instruments.
“The orchestra is pretty cool, too—the West and Eastern instruments together—that was pretty amazing,” Mr. Vosberg said.
Reporting by Ying Wan and Sharon Kilarski.
Shen Yun Performing Arts, based in New York, has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world, with a mission to revive traditional Chinese culture. Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company will perform in Chicago through April 22.
For more information visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
