NEW YORK—It’s a city of artistic pioneers, a city of explosive cultural exchanges, a city of diversity and creativity. And perfectly exemplifying this spirit is Shen Yun Performing Arts, a refreshing performance offering audiences glimpses into authentic, traditional Chinese culture spanning five millennia of history and civilization.
It’s a cultural heritage that has largely been lost, because the Chinese Communist Party has attempted to stifle and destroy it with movements like the Cultural Revolution. But Shen Yun is bringing it back.
“In a place like New York City, to have this kind of talent, and to be culturally stimulated and energized, it doesn’t get any better,” exclaimed Jerry Cammarata, Chief Operating Officer and Dean of Student Affairs at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, after seeing a sold-out showing of Shen Yun at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center on Jan. 15.
Mr. Cammarata is a man of enthusiasm, accomplishment, and dedication. He has led a government commission, worked as the associate director at Coney Island Hospital, served on the New York City Central Board of Education, written a book on fatherhood, and served as the United Nations Liaison to the World Safety Organization.
“Being the capital of culture means that this is the kind of performance that should not be missed by anybody. You can go to our museums, you can go to our Broadway, but when you see this kind of talent, you realize it’s unique and it’s valuable and it must be sustained,” Mr. Cammarata said.
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts celebrates traditional Chinese culture on stage through a combination of classical and ethnic Chinese dance, a live orchestra combining Eastern and Western instruments, an animated backdrop, and vibrant costumes. Together, these elements transport audiences through time and space to the Middle Kingdom, a land of honor, spirituality, beauty, and morality.
