MESA, Ariz.—Malcolm Craig, a retired president of an aerospace company, was in the audience at the Ikeda Theater on Thursday evening, February 28, to see the acclaimed Shen Yun Performing Arts.
“I thought it was quite good,” said Mr. Craig. “It was very graceful.”
The New York-based company’s website states, “Through the universal language of music and dance, Shen Yun weaves a wondrous tapestry of heavenly realms, ancient legends, and modern heroic tales, taking you on a journey through 5,000 years of Chinese culture.”
“A Shen Yun performance features the world’s foremost classically trained dancers, a unique orchestra blending East and West, and dazzling animated backdrops—together creating one spectacular performance,” says the website.
Mr. Craig was impressed by Shen Yun’s vibrant backdrops and costumes. “I think the colors were quite beautiful,” he said. He also appreciated reading the lyrics of the solo singers projected onto the screen.
As a former businessman who has been to China and other parts of Asia, Mr. Craig said Shen Yun conveyed to him the freedom of expression. “I think that governments that do not encourage that individual freedom are missing something. And people enjoy being free to do those sort of things. This is an expression of individual freedom. I would like to see more of it,” he said.
Though Shen Yun is bringing Chinese culture to the stages of the world, it is not allowed to be shown in communist China. The regime there has sought to destroy China’s culture over the last 60 years it has been in power.
Mr. Craig said he would recommend the show to others and tell them it was very worthwhile coming to see.
Reporting by Flora Ge and Sarah Le.
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
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