BOSTON—Martha Brill and her husband Haim went to see Shen Yun at Citi Wang Theatre on Feb. 28.
“For me, it was a very unique experience. I have never seen traditional Chinese dance, so it was really an interesting cultural experience for me. I feel like I’ve been away, I’ve traveled,” said Martha Brill, a painter.
Mr. Brill also liked it: “I just agree with her. Everything’s great.”
New York-based Shen Yun revives China’s rich 5,000-year-old culture, displaying ancient legends, ethnic dances, and classical Chinese dance, as well as scenes from contemporary life in China. The performances are accompanied by a traditional Western orchestra that includes Chinese instruments.
In addition, Shen Yun features a one-of-a-kind digitally animated backdrop. Blending projection technology with ancient culture, Shen Yun’s animated backdrop presents scenes from celestial palaces to Tang Dynasty pavilions, giving audiences insight into China’s long history. The backdrop aids in the storytelling, allowing performers to move from stage to screen.
“It was really interesting, the visual effects, the figures going in and out of the background, it was wonderful,” said Mrs. Brill, who said Shen Yun was so inspiring it will influence her in her future work.
Real Estate Manager Likes Shen Yun’s ‘Beautiful Costumes’
“It was wonderful, we are glad we came, it was beautiful. Beautiful costumes and beautiful people, they did a wonderful job,” said Marie Gagnon, a Bostonian who manages real estate.
Jim Moulison, a VP at Massbay Electrical Corp., accompanied Ms. Gagnon to the Feb. 28 performance. He especially liked the athletic component of classical Chinese dance.
It combines graceful moves with more dramatic leaps and tumbling techniques. “It is able to transcend ethnic, cultural, and even linguistic barriers, taking this well-established Chinese culture and presenting its essence to the world,” according to the Shen Yun website.
Both of them also enjoyed the fusion of Western and Eastern music provided by Shen Yun’s live orchestra.
“The instruments were wonderful,” said Ms. Gagnon.
“Some of the instruments we are familiar with and others we have never heard before, they are very nice,” said Mr. Moulison.
The performance also featured the two-stringed Chinese instrument, the erhu. “Surprising, with just two strings they get so much music out of that one instrument,” said Mr. Moulison.
Both of them liked the performance so much, they wholeheartedly recommend it. “We are going to try to get some of our friends to come next time,” said Mr. Moulison.
Reporting by NTD Television and Valentin Schmid
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.
