WASHINGTON—Audience members rose in standing ovation, cheered, and waved as the curtain closed on world-renowned Shen Yun Performing Arts’ second public show at the Kennedy Center in Washington on Aug. 27.
Many theatergoers seemed unwilling to leave the Kennedy Center’s Opera House after the night of classical Chinese dance, ethnic and folk dance, bel canto singing, live orchestra, and two curtain calls.
Among those touched by the show was Ms. Traten Fisher, founder and director of State of the Arts Cultural Series program at the U.S. Department of State, a program she voluntarily runs, which puts on lunchtime concerts every other week. She is also a portrait painter and concert pianist.
“I thought it was very aesthetic, very beautifully done. I appreciated all the energy and the talent and the dancing that went into it. I thought it was absolutely an exquisite work of art,” said Ms. Fisher.
“I certainly felt exhilaration with certain of the dancers. I felt like I appreciated the energy and the work that went into a production such as this. Being an artist myself, I know what goes into something of this nature. And so I truly appreciate it from my standpoint. It’s very aesthetic, and … the colors, the synchronization, just all of the energy that went into it—it was quite remarkable.”
Collecting Chinese virtuosos from around the world, New York-based Shen Yun has graced the stages of more than 90 cities on 5 continents just in 2009.
Ms. Fisher particularly liked the performance Nymphs of the Sea in which water fairies depict water ripples with their lengthy fans. She also enjoyed Dance of the Snow-capped Mountain, a dance performance displaying the vitality of Tibetan men.
“They were like male Rockettes. I don’t know how to describe them, because they were so beautifully synchronized, the energy, and I just found it exquisite,” she said.
“Mostly I appreciated the discipline that must have gone into it—more than anything else. There’s so much discipline to create something so authentic. It made it very interesting to me.”
Shen Yun aims to revive the five-millennia-old traditional Chinese heritage and arts that thrived before decades of suppression by the communist regime in China.
Shen Yun performed once before in 2009 at the Kennedy Center, where American presidents enjoy the performing arts. The performance, held earlier in February, brought in full houses and hundreds who were willing to buy standing-room-only tickets.
Due to public demand, Shen Yun returned to District of Columbia just before summer ends, putting on one VIP show and six public shows. It will return again from January 20 to 24, 2010 with completely new programs.
A six-show run will be held at Washington D.C.'s Kennedy Center Opera House from August 26 to 30.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of the Shen Yun Performing Arts 2009 World Tour. For more information please visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
