SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun Brings ‘Light and happiness,’ Says Theater Actress

Feb 27, 2014
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Shen Yun Brings ‘Light and happiness,’ Says Theater Actress
Brittany Nicastro and her grandma enjoy Shen Yun Performing Arts at the California Center for the Arts, Thursday, Feb. 27. (Jane Lin/Epoch Times)

ESCONDIDO, Calif.—Singer and classical theater actress Brittany Nicastro attended Shen Yun Performing Arts’ matinee showing at the California Center for the Arts, Thursday, Feb. 27.

“I thought it was amazing,” said Ms. Nicastro. “I cried at the very beginning. I knew it was going to be good.”

Formed it 2006, New York-based Shen Yun is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing 5,000 years of Chinese culture to life through music and dance. In just a few short years, it has established itself as a global phenomenon.

Ms. Nicastro particularly enjoyed the show’s combination of art and spirituality.

According to the Shen Yun website, “Shen Yun’s mini-drama pieces draw upon stories and legend that span China’s history from the Yellow Emperor and through the Tang and Song dynasties and all the way to the modern day.”

Experiencing the performances’ deeper spiritual meaning was, for Ms. Nicastro, a highlight of the night. “It’s about the good of all creation, the good of all humanity, and bringing light and happiness to everyone,” she described.

“Whether set in the past or in contemporary China, every dance embodies traditional Chinese values,” states the website. “Ideals of loyalty, filial piety, and veneration for the divine are cherished and celebrated. Heroes are extolled for their compassion and tolerance as much as their courage or determination when facing adversity.”

Equally impressive to Ms. Nicastro was the show’s two singers.

“I thought it was beautiful,” she said. “Especially the second soprano, she was amazing. They were both beautiful.”

As stated on the website, “The primary trait that distinguishes the singers of Shen Yun is their use of bel canto technique to sing Chinese text. This means that the singer must, while continuing to meet the challenges inherent in bel canto technique, retain proper Chinese pronunciation and diction. Today, these singers’ ability to do this is unparalleled.”

Ms. Nicastro was also very thankful to her grandmother, without whom, she would not have been able to attend the night’s performance.

“I’ve been wanting to see this show for a really long time,” she explained. “I saw the signs up in Portland, where I live, but I couldn’t afford it at the time, but thankfully my grandma took me out as an early birthday present.”

Reporting by Jane Lin and Morgan Bradley

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.