CHARLESTON, W. VA.—Shen Yun Performing Arts greatly impressed Barbara Schamberger who called the performance “top notch” and “truly unique.”

Ms. Schamberger, an attorney, attended the performance with Luana Sizemore, who works for the West Virginia Department of Health & Human Resources. The the two saw Shen Yun perform Wednesday, March 12 at the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of West Virginia.

Shen Yun is “a cultural delight,” said Ms. Schamberger, “a richness and sumptuousness you couldn’t repeat anywhere.”

According to Shen Yun Performing Arts’ website, the groups’ mission is to revive 5,000 years of Chinese culture and civilization. Shen Yun aims to bring that culture to life through performances of classical Chinese dance.

For Ms. Schamberger, that mission may have met success. “The dancers conveyed a history, and exquisiteness that is just top notch,” Ms. Schamberger said. She called Shen Yun “an exquisite combination of music and dance” and said the performance drew her in to “the historical perspective of China in a wonderful way.”

An orchestra accompanies Shen Yun dancers. The musical accompaniment assists the dancers in storytelling and enhances expression.

Ms. Schamberger said she found the performance “deeply entertaining for all ages. I think children would have loved it. I think adults would love it. I know I did.”

“We both loved the lotus fairies,” Ms. Schamberger said. “That was some of the most incredible choreography. Using both the dry ice and the fluttering of the beautiful fans, you were just drawn in, amazed, mesmerized by how exquisite the performance was. It was truly unique,” said Ms. Schamberger.

Luana Sizemore similarly enjoyed Shen Yun, “It was a very beautiful show. The whole spectacle. The colors, the dancing, the props that were used, the music, it was very very wonderful. I enjoyed every minute of it.”

The beauty of the performance was not the only element that drew Ms. Schamberger in. In addition to celebrating stories of virtue and heroism from the past, Shen Yun dancers also told stories of modern day China.

A performance called The Steadfast Lotus depicts practitioners of Falun Gong in peaceful resistance to modern-day persecution by the Chinese regime. Ms. Schamberger said she was very much drawn to this portion of the program depicting modern China. “I really could identify with the story,” and struggle of Falun Gong, said Ms. Schamberger.

In addition to dance, Shen Yun’s performance in Charleston also included two solo opera singers.
Ms. Sizemore said the music touched her heart. As the performer sang, behind him or her a scenic backdrop was projected. Onto the backdrop were projected the lyrics in English and Chinese.

“We were able to follow along to understand what they were singing, what they were trying to say. It was very nice,” Ms. Sizemore said.

“Ms. Huang was one of the loveliest sopranos I’ve ever heard because of the richness of her voice,” said Ms. Schamberger. “It wasn’t merely high and perfect pitch; there was a rich emotion in conveying both the history and passion for the culture. That’s very rare, and exquisite.”

Reporting by NTD and Nicholas Zifcak

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