ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—An enthusasiastic audience were at the Mahaffey Theater at the Progress Energy Center on Friday Jan. 29 to see Shen Yun Performing Arts bring ancient China’s divinely-inspired culture to the stage.
Mr. Hernandez, a business owner for over 30 years from Saint Pete, came to see Shen Yun and experience traditional Chinese culture through music and dance. He bought tickets to the show because some of the Shen Yun performers had eaten at his restaurant and they had inspired his interest.
“It’s excellent, it’s a wonderful array of culture and colors, and it’s beautiful!“ he said, impressed by the experience. “The costumes are awesome. I think it’s a nice variety and changed costumes often—it’s really nice.”
The New York-based Shen Yun tours with a live orchestra which comprises traditional Chinese and classical Western instruments. Mr. Hernandez absolutely loved the orchestra, saying, “Everything is very well orchestrated.”
Shen Yun depicts tales and legends from the past and stories from the present. He said, “The stories they tell and how they perform it ... sort of explains from the beginning how it was all created and it was pretty interesting.”
Mr. Hernandez was sad that he had not brought his wife and children, vowing to do so next year so that they could see Shen Yun and the traditional Chinese culture.
‘Love the beauty’
Mr. Pak, who works in information Technology, and his friend Ms. Lambach who works in healthcare were also there to experience Shen Yun.
Ms. Lambach said, “I’m enjoying it very much.” “Very much”, Mr. Pak added.
Ms. Lambach loved the beauty of the female dancers, saying, “I love the lady dances, the one with the long sleeves, the flowing silk.”
According to Shen Yun’s website, each costume is carefully designed and tailored with meticulous care. Apparel has always been an essential part of China’s five-millennia-old, divinely-bestowed culture, and Shen Yun Performing Arts brings this heritage to life on stage.
They both appreciated the live orchestra. “It was great,” said Ms. Lambach.
With reporting by Jada Yeung.
Shen Yun Performing Arts now travels to Jacksonville, for two shows on Jan. 30 and 31, at the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts.
For more information, please visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
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