BUENOS AIRES—Prominent Argentine lawyer, Adolfo Casabal Elia, praised Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company’s presentation of China’s rich past, currently playing at Teatro Opera Citi through to Dec. 21.
“Wonderful. It really impressed me … especially the purity [of] the female [dancers], because of [their] great modesty, and then obviously, the perfect synchronicity of all [their] movements.”
Classical Chinese dance, music, and song is at the heart of what New York-based Shen Yun does. It aims to reawaken 5,000 years of China’s divinely-inspired culture, oppressed under 60-plus years of communist rule.
The synergy created between the artists, together with hi-tech backdrop scenes, colorful handmade costumes, and a full orchestral ensemble playing a meld of Western and ancient Eastern instrumentals, left Mr. Elia with a tranquil feeling.
“Then the message they give about the tremendous struggle they have in China,” he said, commenting on a scene that exposed China’s ongoing 13-year persecution of Falun Gong, an ancient meditation system.
Mr. Elia was involved in a 2009 landmark Argentine court decision that sought the arrest of two high-ranking communist officials for their role in crimes committed against Falun Gong practitioners.
Reflecting upon the staged scene, Mr. Elia was impressed by the “null grudge” held in light of the “terrible abuses the Falun Dafa students have suffered,” adding that the Shen Yun enactment was the best way to show that practitioners are “really people of peace.”
And as for the Chinese traditional values portrayed in the series of mini-dramas, Mr. Elia felt Argentina would benefit.
“Materialism has invaded us; we are living very far away from values and to highlight that makes us [feel] very good—a lot of spiritual wellness, right? In that sense, really, I think it’s a wonderful show.
“That spiritual tranquility, that sensation of peace, as you say, benevolence … and also that ability to introduce us to that struggle in such a peaceful way.”
Summing up, Mr. Elia said he couldn’t find the words to describe to others how he perceived the presentation.
“I’m speechless. I would say it’s wonderful, come to see it and that the conclusion will be theirs once they can be present and enjoy it directly.”
Reporting by NTD Television and Raiatea Tahana-Reese
For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
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