SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun Connects Audience to People of China

Apr 03, 2016
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Shen Yun Connects Audience to People of China
Chris Weakland, Chief Human Resources Officer for the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, at Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Orpheum Theater in Phoenix on April 2, 2016. (NTD Television)

PHOENIX—Chris Weakland, the Chief Human Resources Officer for the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, had a surprisingly touching spiritual experience at Shen Yun Performing Arts on Saturday at the Orpheum Theatre.

“It’s beautiful,” said Ms. Weakland. “It’s very moving to me, makes me feel connected to the people of China, that we are not so different.”

Shen Yun is a celebration of the true 5000-year culture of China, which is said to have been a gift from the heavens.

Founded in 2006 in New York, Shen Yun has become the world’s premiere classical Chinese dance and music company, showcasing spectacular dance routines accompanied by Shen Yun’s own full orchestra with traditional Chinese instruments incorporated, and featuring elegant costumes, musical soloists, and a stunning interactive digital backdrop.

“It’s magnificent, just the perfection with which [the dancers] all move in the same motion, the elegance with which they move, and the athleticism of both male and the female dancers—it’s inspiring,” said Ms. Weakland.

She also adored the dancers’ costumes—the colors and how the fabrics flowed as they danced.

“It’s like watching a butterfly float by,” she said. “I'd love to go and touch the costumes.”

Ms. Weakland said her seat was very close to the orchestra pit, just five rows back. The sound was very clear, and she could really feel the positive energy radiating from the musicians, which turned playful or somber, depending on the mood of the dance piece. She said the musicians were wonderful and very, very talented.

Shen Yun’s dances and music tell stories from all eras of Chinese history, from ancient legends to modern life.

The contrast between the spiritual underpinnings of Chinese culture for thousands of years is particularly striking compared to the Chinese Communist Party’s mistreatment of religious and spiritual practices today.

“That’s a powerful message,” said Ms. Weakland. “They seek guidance from heaven above, from God, and from the deity to help them...to bless the people and to help them through their trials.”

“I am a deeply spiritual person myself,” she added.

Ms. Weakland said she would absolutely recommend Shen Yun to others.

“Everyone should see it,” she said. “It touches the heart.”

Reporting by NTD Television and Sarah Le

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.

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.

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