WASHINGTON, D.C.—Patti Menders, a community liaison officer for Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, watched
Shen Yun Performing Arts at The Kennedy Center Opera House, on Jan. 27.
“It was fantastic,” said Ms. Menders. “The artistry, the vibrance, the colors, the creativity—it was incredible … Family, faith, it was funny; there was so much about it that was wonderful.”
Based in New York,
Shen Yun was founded in 2006 by leading Chinese artists and quickly became the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company. Its mission is to revive traditional Chinese culture and to show its audiences the beauty of China before communism.
Though he was unable to watch the performance himself, Jason S. Miyares, the attorney general of Virginia, welcomed Shen Yun and acknowledged the significance of Shen Yun’s performance in his Letter of Special Recognition.
Ms. Menders said that Shen Yun inspired her to learn more about China’s
history.
“It (Shen Yun) makes me happy,” she said. “It makes me appreciate the freedoms we have in this country, to see the richness of what China had. I’m just more impressed, and I want to go home and study the history of China so I can appreciate it more.”
According to the
Shen Yun website, China has 5,000 years of history. Shen Yun endeavors to encapsulate the essence of those 5,000 years in a two-hour performance. The program comprises of a number of dance vignettes, story-based dances, songs performed in the traditional bel canto style, and a solo performance featuring a traditional Chinese stringed instrument called the erhu.
“The heritage is so rich and so deep,” said Ms. Menders. “In America, we have so many cultures here that come together in a melting pot. [Shen Yun] helps me appreciate the Chinese Americans that live amongst us and the beauty of what once was in China. I came away with a rich appreciation for the Chinese culture.”
“I truly recommend everyone come and see the
Shen Yun performance. It was wonderful.”
Reporting by Lisa Fan and Wandi Zhu
