WASHINGTON—Mr. James Dimanto, a former employee of the Army and Navy, and the World Bank and his wife Ms. Rosangela Dimanto braved a blizzard to see the Shen Yun at the Kennedy Center Opera House on Jan. 21.
Mr. Dimanto said, “I loved it, I loved it. I thought it was magnificent. I loved the color; I loved the dance. I loved the singing. I loved it. It was very well done.”
The couple has lived many places, especially in Asia, and developed a cosmopolitan understanding of the larger world. Mr. Dimanto said, “We lived in Asia, in Europe, and the Middle East because of my job. Last time we were in Korea, I lived in Seoul from 2007 to 2008.”
Because of their international experience, they are excited that the Shen Yun is touring the globe, and Mr. Dimanto said Shen Yun “opens up Westerners to the Asian culture. Most Americans have either a Western or European-type background, yet, to all, seeing Asia is bringing to the fore a completely different culture.”
He found that Shen Yun’s presentation of China’s traditional culture is unique. “It’s a very mystical-type, very colorful-type and spiritual-type culture. I loved it, especially because it’s completely different from Western culture.”
The Shen Yun website states, “Through the universal language of music and dance, Shen Yun weaves a wondrous tapestry of heavenly realms, ancient legends, and modern heroic tales, taking you on a journey through 5,000 years of Chinese culture. Its stunning beauty and tremendous energy leave audiences uplifted and inspired.”
Mrs. Dimanto said, “I thought that the show was really amazing.”
She wished her fellow Italians could see it, that it would travel to “my home country Italy, because I know that they would welcome you and they would really be excited. It was a wonderful experience.” She is originally from the famous town of Parma.
To the artists, she would say, “Thank you so much.”
She promised, “We will not miss the show when it will perform again next year.”
Reporting by Min Chang and Heide B. Malhotra
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.
