MEMPHIS, Tenn.—Every year two Memphis media professionals bring their daughter to see Shen Yun Performing Arts. The New York-based Shen Yun, whose mission is to revive the 5,000 years of divinely inspired traditional Chinese culture, was performing at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts on March 6. “Oh, I love it,” said video editor Larry McKinney. “We try to come every year. My daughter loves it.”
He would say to the artists in the Shen Yun Touring Company, “Keep it up. Keep coming back. We’re glad to support it.”
He laughed and said he was simultaneously analyzing the technique in the unique projected video backdrops and simply enjoying the performance. “It’s wonderful, I’m looking to see how they do it, how perfect they get it, the timing,” he said.
He is currently on a Blues tour and doing video for the tour, producing video to be projected behind the singers. The stagecraft and theatrical production of Shen Yun intrigued him, he said. “I’m trying to figure out the timing [of the Shen Yun performance].” Performers appear to enter and emerge from the animated projections, with split-second, perfect timing.
Mr. McKinney smiled and said he was almost torn between analyzing the technique as a professional and simply enjoying the beauty of it. “I’m trying to figure out the timing … but then I’m looking at the beautiful costumes and really enjoying everything … but it’s like I’m focusing on different things, and so much to see and so much to take in. Each dance was wonderful,” he said.
He has directed documentaries, created music videos and worked with the local NBC affiliate.
“I think everyone should experience it a least once. If you come, you'll come back every year,” said his wife, Patricia McKinney.
She is the business development manager at The Daily News/The Memphis News. Their daughter Mia “looks forward to it, so it’s wonderful to give her exposure to another culture,” said Mrs. McKinney.
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. Shen Yun Performing Arts Touring Company will be at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, for one more performance on March 7.
For more information, please visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
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