ESCONDIDO, Calif.—“Chinese culture is beautiful, ancient and rich,” Denise Kinyon said of Shen Yun Performing Arts presentation held at the California Center for the Arts on Dec. 29.
She was there with her husband Jim Kinyon, the managing director at an international shipping company in Carlsbad, where she also works.
Mr. Kinyon bought the tickets for his wife knowing she would enjoy it.
“I don’t normally think to go [to these], but it’s very nice,” he said at intermission. “I enjoyed it quite a bit.”
Based in New York, Shen Yun has a mission to revive 5,000 years of Chinese culture—all but lost by 60-plus years of communist rule. At its heart is Chinese classical dance and music, presented in a collection of short stories featuring award-winning artists, dancers, vocalists, musicians, alike.
“I think all of [the mini-dramas] are just beautiful and they’re all quite different,” said Mrs. Kinyon, who comes from a background in jazz and ballet. “It’s like air—so smooth and so beautiful. It makes it look like a dream or an illusion. It’s beautiful.”
Classical Chinese dance is grounded in 5,000 years of a divinely inspired culture, and is a dance art form built upon a deep foundation of traditional aesthetics, rich with expressive power, the Shen Yun program says.
Mr. Kinyon thoroughly enjoyed watching the interaction of the dancers with the animated backdrop.
“I love it … the way they come jumping out of the screen, and then they appear on the stage. It’s amazing.”
Mrs. Kinyon said the vocalists had an amazing talent.
“Yes, I don’t even know how they’re able to [do] it,” her husband said. “It’s unbelievable to hear it ... I can’t even believe it, honestly. It’s amazing!”
In summing up, Mrs. Kinyon said she believed Chinese culture had much to offer today’s society.
“Chinese culture is so ancient and it has so much to bring that I don’t think people really know it’s losing its culture. I think it’s just beautiful, ancient and rich.”
Reporting by Lu Rusong and Robin Kemker.
Shen Yun Performing Arts Touring Company will be in Escondido for performances at the California Center for the Arts through Dec. 31.
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
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