ESCONDIDO, Calif.—Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company received a standing ovation from a sold-out audience at the California Center for the Arts on Mar. 1.
Mr. Sean Mills is the owner of Spectrum Commercial Real Estate Investments Services, Inc. and Ardor Capital Partners, LLC specializing in the syndication of real estate investments. He said, “I loved it, I thought it was great!” after watching the performance with his wife, Vinci.
For eight years, the non-profit New York-based Shen Yun has been touring globally, bringing 5,000 years of Chinese civilization and culture to life through music and dance. “Millions have seen Shen Yun. Standing ovations at the world’s top venues, royalty attending in Europe, sold-out shows throughout North America, and packed houses across Asia have made Shen Yun an international phenomenon,” says the Shen Yun website.
Mr. Mills said he enjoyed the stories told through the dances, particularly Mongolian Chopsticks. This is a Mongolian ethnic dance in which male dancers emphasize “furious footwork and long, extended arm movements,” and “use chopsticks to create a crisp, staccato beat that quickens the blood and stirs the heart,” based on the program description.
Shen Yun uses Chinese dance—which has been refined over thousands of years—to portray stories spanning the millennia of China’s culture. “Chinese dance is at the heart of what Shen Yun does,” explains the Shen Yun website. “Known for its incredible flips and spins, and its gentle elegance, it is one of the most rigorous and expressive art forms in the world.”
Setting each dance is an animated digital backdrop, which at times interacts with the dancers.
“To see the people, to see the story, and they pop out of the story. That’s pretty fantastic!” said Mr. Mills.
Mr. Mills also praised Shen Yun costumes. “They are very vibrant,” he said.
Each dance features a different costume. Shen Yun’s costume artists tailor hundreds of new pieces each season. The costumes are presented in brilliant colors. The website explains: “Every detail is given meticulous attention and is a result of artistic inspiration and careful polishing.”
Another major feature of Shen Yun is its orchestra, which enchanted Mr. Mills.
“I do like it! It’s nice to see the mix of the two,” he said.
The Shen Yun Orchestra blends ancient Chinese instruments, such as the erhu, pipa, and suona, with a full Western symphony orchestra. “The sound produced is uniquely pleasing to the ear. The ensemble at once expresses both the grandeur of a Western orchestra and the distinct senses of China’s 5,000-year-old civilization,” explains the website.
In addition to the dance pieces, there are vocal and solo instrumental performances, as well. Singers sing in Chinese with the lyrics, in both Chinese and translated into English, projected on the backdrop. Mrs. Mills was impressed with Shen Yun soprano. “It was beautiful!” she said.
“The primary trait that distinguishes the singers of Shen Yun is their use of bel canto technique to sing Chinese text,” explains the website. “Moreover, the song texts the singers perform are original works written for these pieces. Brimming with philosophical reflection about human life and containing deep layers of meaning, the texts go beyond the boundaries of nation, race, and culture, and have been fondly received and appreciated the world over.”
Mr. Mills said he would tell his friends to come and see Shen Yun.
Reporting by NTD Television and Thanh Le
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.
