WASHINGTON—“It was just really moving and beautiful, and things with beauty are always inspiring,” said vocalist and pianist Jessica Cain after seeing Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington, Jan. 24.
Ms. Cain attended the performance with Kevin Downs, a technology consultant. The two commented on the Chinese culture in New York-based Shen Yun, highlighting a noticeable uniqueness.
“It’s kind of indescribable, you just have to come and see it,” Ms. Cain said.
The New York-based company is on a mission to revive 5,000 years of Chinese culture through story-based classical Chinese dance. The performance also includes soprano soloists and a solo performance on the erhu, a two-stringed instrument sometimes called the “Chinese violin.”
Being a musician, Ms. Cain’s first impression was how beautiful the orchestra was. The erhu in particular, had caught her eye.
“The score was just really moving. It was really expressive, and it added a lot to the stories that were being told,” Ms. Cain said. “It really helped to highlight the dramatic elements, and it was a great addition to the dance.”
Shen Yun’s orchestra blends traditional Chinese instruments with a full Western symphony, the sound produced is pleasing to the ear. The unique music was not lost on Mr. Downs either.
“It really augmented and enhanced the dance, which was gorgeous in and of itself,” Mr. Downs said. “Very graceful. Very well done.”
At the heart of the performance is classical Chinese dance, one of the most comprehensive dance systems in existence.
“I think there was a lot of passion in the dancers,“ Mr. Downs said. ”You could see it in their faces as they danced, I think they were enjoying the show and that was entertaining. It made me want to see more, with each one.”
“It’s not a typical dance performance, it’s much more,” he said.
With reporting by NTD Television and Liana Chau
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has four touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
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.
