WORCESTER, Mass.—Museum educator Claudia Roche saw Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company for the first time at The Hanover Theater on Feb. 6, where she found universal stories, she said.
“This is my first time at the show and I am enjoying it very much, and learning a lot too,” Ms. Roche said. “The costumes are beautiful, the dancing, and even the stories.”
In her opinion, the themes were universal. “You can see how much they cross all different cultures and experiences that many other cultures have had over the years.” Shen Yun draws on China’s unusual attribute of having 5,000 years of uninterrupted documented history.
“I find it very interesting. I think there’s a connection not only to the Chinese spirituality but also the Western spirituality. There is that connection of the stories. You could see parallels with both of them,” she said.
Shen Yun’s mini-drama pieces draw upon stories and legends that span China’s history from the Yellow Emperor, the Tang and Song dynasties and all the way to the modern day, the company website says.
Ms. Roche said she enjoyed the unique blend of Eastern and Western instruments in the Shen Yun Orchestra and the soloists that were accompanied by piano. She felt the music supported the narrative part of the performance.
“I don’t know much about the music, but I am enjoying it. It’s very appropriate for the storytelling part of the dancing and the singing that they’ve been doing.”
Ms. Roche found the high-tech digital backdrops entertaining. They provide surprises.
“That is really fun to watch, especially when you don’t expect something to come out of the backdrop. It is kind of neat to see that, especially the first couple of times.”
These digital backdrop designs complement and synchronize all aspects of the performance: the characters, color of the costumes, specific dance movements, props, lighting, the story being told, particular notes played by the orchestra, and special audio effects.
Ms. Roche was impressed by the Shen Yun costumes, which range from the Tang Dynasty’s “Raiment of Rainbows and Feathers” to imperial dragon robes, phoenix coronets, and cloud capes, according to the Shen Yun website.
“The costumes are absolutely gorgeous. It helps to make the whole production seem even more real than it really is, and it’s so colorful, and it just adds so much interest to what the performers are doing, especially to see how they use the costumes as part of their props as well,” she said.
The discipline and dedication behind the beauty made an impression on her. “It must take many hours of practice—to see all the different steps as well as all the different movements that they do—to be able to get up there and perform night after night for more than one performance during the week. I can appreciate how hard it must be for them and how much work they have to put in to it,” Ms. Roche said.
Shen Yun was founded in New York in 2006 by a group of artists who had a wish to revive China’s 5,000-year old divinely-inspired civilization.
The performing arts company, one of three touring more than 100 cities, is hailed across Europe, Asia, Oceania and the United States as the world’s leader of classical Chinese dance and music.
‘Outstanding, outstanding’
Mr. Donald J. Starr, a retired teacher, and his wife Mrs. Joyce Starr came from Leominster, Massachusetts to see Shen Yun.
“It was a great night,” he said. “Outstanding, outstanding.”
Mrs. Starr said she was especially fascinated by the technological aspect of the digital backdrops, “where mortals and divine beings merged as one on stage,” according to the Shen Yun website.
Mr. Starr said he wanted to seize the chance to experience Shen Yun because, “you generally see things that you’ll never have a chance to possibly see again. So we wanted to take advantage of this,” he said.
Reporting by Steve Gigliotti and Raiatea Tahana-Reese.
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
The Epoch Times publishes in 35
countries and in 21 languages. Subscribe to our e-newsletter.
