ROCHESTER, NY—Shen Yun Performing Arts left Lisa Critchley, a senior executive for a major real estate company, deeply impressed after its opening night show at the historic Rochester Auditorium Theatre.
“It is amazing and breathtakingly beautiful. The enthusiasm of the artists is touching my heart,” she said.
Shen Yun is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance company. Founded in 2006 on a mission to revive China’s divinely inspired culture, Shen Yun now tours the world each year with three equally large companies, each with its own orchestra and vocal soloists.
“It’s almost indescribably amazing and beautiful. Indescribable, the scenery, the feeling that’s coming from all of the artists, and the costumes are so beautiful—vibrant silk fluttering, it is gorgeous.”
Ms. Critchley shared her thoughts at intermission. Noting that her work as the senior VP of human resources for Home Properties Inc. requires her to bridge cultural gaps, she said Shen Yun was a great way to connect people together.
With some 1,300 employees, the company owns, manages, and develops multi-family apartments along the East Coast.
Ms. Critchley said she had some expectations of Shen Yun from the colorful brochure she received, but it did not fully prepare her for the caliber of the performers in their skill, energy, and elegance.
“I was surprised at how much tumbling and just how graceful but also how strong and athletic everyone is,” she said.
Classical Chinese dance is the secret grandfather of both gymnastics and acrobatics. The jumps and flips people enjoy during the Olympics actually have a history of thousands of years and originated in Classical Chinese dance.
