INDIANAPOLIS—Mayor Harold Campbell, his wife, Joann, and friends, Helen Stamper and Richard Lee had wonderful things to say about Shen Yun Performing Arts after seeing the performance at Clowes Memorial Hall of Butler University on Tuesday evening, March 13.
New York-based Shen Yun, the world’s leading classical Chinese dance and music company, has as its mission the revival of China’s authentic, divinely inspired culture, “which the Chinese Communist Party has for decades tried to destroy: a tradition of spiritual self-discipline and veneration for the divine,” says the company website.
In two and a half hours, in a collection of short pieces, the audience travels from the Himalayas to tropical lake-filled regions; from the legends of the culture’s creation over 5,000 years ago through to the story of Falun Dafa in China today.
Mayor Campbell, the mayor of Vernon, Indiana, and his wife also saw the show last year.
“It makes you feel good. When you leave you just feel good, worth coming to, be a participant ... I’m honored to be invited,” he said.
In explaining why she enjoyed the show so much, Mrs. Campbell said: “I think because I love music and I love dance, and it’s the artistry of it and the color, and it’s always moving.”
In commenting on the orchestra comprised of both Western and Chinese instruments, Mrs. Campbell said, “I like all the instruments that they use and some of the unique sounds that are in the Chinese music that we don’t have in American music.”
Mr. Lee especially enjoyed the costumes. “The costumes are very vivid, very flowing and it’s very beautifully done,” he said.
Shen Yun’s costumes are handmade and their colors complement the scenery projected behind the dancers.
In particular, Mr. Lee mentioned the dance Sleeves of Silk, saying he enjoyed “the very flowing [quality] of the costumes, and the hands, they could just tell a story with their hands and the flowing of the silks.
Helen Stamper, also accompanying Mayor Campbell, enjoyed the performance as well.
“I love it, love it,” she said.
“Just everything about it. I love the costumes. It’s just so smooth everything they do—I love it.”
Reporting by Su Yue and Sharon Kilarski.
Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. Shen Yun Performing Arts Touring Company will be at the Stranahan Theater in Toledo for two performances on March 17 and 18.
For more information, please visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
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