NEW YORK—Robert Santiago, a business owner and executive director of a non-profit organization, always felt a strong connection to ancient Chinese culture.
“I have always been enchanted by traditional Chinese culture, so much so my wife teases me,” Mr. Santiago said after watching Shen Yun Performing Arts at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater in New York City on Saturday, Jan. 11.
The New York-based Shen Yun revives 5,000 years of Chinese divine culture through the universal language of music and dance. Audience member Jennifer Nadel, a team manager for Zurich Insurance, referred to the culture as “magical and beautiful.”
She said it is a shame the centuries-old heritage has been all but lost in mainland China after the Chinese Communist Party sought to eradicate it during the Great Cultural Revolution. Ms. Nadel was grateful to be able to see the performance outside of China and to bring her daughter, Vella, as well.
“I think it was nice for [Vella],” said Ms. Nadel, “because she could really understand all the different stories that were coming alive.”
“The dancing really brought it to life,” she said. “It was beautiful, colorful, and very insightful.”
With many children expressing joy and wonder at the performance, Mr. Santiago also said it was “an experience for a person of my age that I have been able to be privileged to see this at this particular time.”
“The dances were fantastic, the costume arrangements of colors were very vivid and vibrant. I enjoyed the whole performance,” he said.
Joe Stutz, a certified public accountant, said he, his wife, and his two friends had never seen anything like Shen Yun: “We marveled at it. It was amazing.”
He said the precision and synchronization was unprecedented.
“There was not a flaw in the whole thing,” Mr. Stutz said, adding that “I am sure we will be talking about it for a while.”
“We’re all very impressed,” he added.
Marty Mann, a union trustee at Wine & Liquor Union, UFCW LOCAL 2-D, said the performance was very inspirational. “I was completely impressed and I would come back and see them again definitely.”
Reporting by NTD Television and Tara MacIsaac
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.
