CLEVELAND—At the State Theater on the afternoon of Feb. 2, Shen Yun Performing Arts World Company enthralled theatergoers once again in its second of two shows in the Sixth City.
Glyn Watts, British retired competitive ice dancer came out to see the matinee. Mr. Watts won the world silver medal in 1974 and the European silver medal in 1975.
Mr. Watts said, “I trained a lot of champions and we came today to get some very creative ideas—which we did from the production. ... So we came with a mission.”
“We’re here to steal ideas because [Shen Yun] such good ideas and to get some of the characteristics of the dance,” Mr. Watts said.
According to Shen Yun’s website, through classical Chinese dance depicts mini-dramas that draw upon stories and legends that span China’s history.
He explained that he had taught a number of Chinese skaters, and that he had a pretty good understanding of Chinese culture.
Classical Chinese dance is built on the fundamentals of bearing, form, and technical skill, including many difficult aerial techniques, but being richly expressive at the same time.
“You can see a lot of the stories are coming out and its nice to see that. It’s kind of a theater. It’s like an opera but it’s a movement without words,” Mr. Watts explained.
He explained that in creating a performance on ice, the choreography also tries to tell a story. An important component of classical Chinese dance is its attention to a dancer’s inner spirit and his or her ability to convey deep emotional expressions.
Mr. Watts commented on the energy behind the story-telling: “There has to be a lot of spirit with the way everyone performs. You can see there’s a passion inside.”
Reporting by NTD Television and Andrew Darin
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.
