Shen Yun a Cultural Experience for Entire Rotary Club

LOS ANGELES—Shen Yun Performing Arts Company performance before a sold-out crowd on Jan. 14 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion was the grand finale to the company’s final performance in LA County. The New York-based dance company received a standing ovation from the audience.

Cynthia Reed, Community Service Coordinator for the Wilmington Rotary Club, was one of the most enthusiastic attendees. After seeing a promotional presentation about Shen Yun, she got 21 tickets approved for purchase, ensuring that every Wilmington Rotarian attended Saturday evening’s show.

“We had a wonderful time,” said Ms. Reed. “The performance was beautiful.”

Shen Yun was established six years ago, says its website, and has three equally large dance companies and orchestras touring the world with one mission: to revive 5,000 years of divinely inspired Chinese culture that was nearly eradicated by more than six decades of communist rule in China.

At the heart of of Shen Yun performances is Classical Chinese dance—one of the most comprehensive dance systems in the world, says Shen Yun’s website.

Ms. Reed was impressed overall by the choreography and skill of the dancers.

“We loved all the costumes,” said Ms. Reed, referring to the handcrafted regalia, which adds another dimension to the performance, along with a digital backdrop and an orchestra that merges classical Western instruments with ancient Chinese instruments, such as the 4,000 year old erhu, or Chinese violin.

Ms. Reed also appreciated the depth of cultural education brought by the show.

“The truth of the matter is that as time goes by, we all lose a certain culture of who we are. I’m Filipino and my children don’t really know my culture because we don’t teach it too much. So it’s great to see and know how it all [the Chinese culture] started.”

Reporting by NTD Television and Genevieve Long.

Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company will next perform in San Diego Jan 19-22.

For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.