PITTSBURGH—Pittsburgh audience members were full of praise for Shen Yun Performing Arts after the New York-based classical Chinese dance and music company completed its opening performance at the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts on the evening of Wednesday, Feb. 19.
Madhu Wangu, author, artist, and scholar, said that she loved the Shen Yun performance.
“It’s delightful, it’s lovely,” Ms. Wangu said.
“The movement is lyrical, the colors are… brilliant, and the skill is excellent—the skill of each individual,” she said. “And the rhythm, they almost flow like the waves in the ocean, or in the river.”
At the heart of Shen Yun is classical Chinese dance, although the company also presents some folk and ethnic dances.
One of the aspects of Shen Yun that really stood out to Ms. Wangu was the use of animated digital backdrops, setting the stage with beautiful scenery and allowing interaction of dancers on stage with characters on the backdrops.
“I loved the juxtaposition of the screen,” Ms. Wangu said. “I love that combination.”
“I was not expecting this synthesis of technology and artistic movement,” she added. “That was very impressive. I had no idea.”
Inspired to Learn More
Also in attendance for Wednesday’s evening performance was Carol Murray, an insurance specialist, who said that the performance was excellent.
“The costumes are fantastic, the dancing is just so phenomenal. It is very good, very good,” said Ms. Murray, noting that the performance has increased her interest in China.
“All you hear now are the bad things in China,” she said. “You forget about the beautiful culture they had, and the beautiful traditions they had.”
Shen Yun, which was formed by a group of classical Chinese artists, has a mission to revive China’s divinely inspired culture, which has a long history of 5,000 years. Based in New York, the performing arts company is independent of the Chinese regime.
“[Shen Yun] made me want to hear more about [China],” said Ms. Murray.
Shen Yun will be performing again on Thursday, Feb. 20.
Reporting by Frank Liang.
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.
