SALT LAKE CITY—“They just glide! They don’t move—they glide across!” said Paul Thomas with a boyish energy and enthusiasm after seeing the artists of Shen Yun Performing Arts effortlessly move across the stage.
After Mr. Thomas and his wife Victoria Thomas saw New York-based Shen Yun at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre on Dec. 30, the couple showered praises for the various aspects of the cultural performance, from the animated backdrop to the meticulously hand-crafted costumes to the grand orchestral performance to the graceful classical Chinese dancing.
As a professional in the film special effects field, Mr. Thomas was particularly captivated by the technical skill of the artists that was perfectly coordinated with the animated backdrop.
“They come and fly in and fly out,” he exclaimed. “Wow. It’s awesome!”
Captivated by every program within the performance, Mrs. Thomas said, “you can’t pick a favorite because they’re all uniquely done. They’re all embedded with their own personalities.”
Her husband couldn’t agree more. “They’re all just amazing! There is no best; they’re all great!”
In the male dancers, Mrs. Thomas saw power and masculinity and strength. In the female dancers, she saw a daintiness, femininity, and ethereal beauty. She was so enthralled by the performers, she said, “they’re not of this earth.”
Mrs. Thomas particularly enjoyed the melodies of the Shen Yun Orchestra, which uniquely combines a Western symphony with classical Chinese instruments and musical traditions. She said she would definitely try to obtain a copy of the soundtrack if possible.
Her greatest regret was that she had not purchased tickets for her daughter and granddaughter to see Shen Yun. “I wish that [Shen Yun] was staying here longer in Salt Lake so other people could have the chance to see them,” she said.
She also felt sad that a performance like Shen Yun, which showcases China’s rich cultural heritage and traditions, couldn’t be shown in China. “They’re missing something so phenomenal and so beautiful. I can’t imagine anybody living with that kind of dreariness that they can’t see something like this. This is awesome.”
Both Mr. and Mrs. Thomas said they felt uplifted from the spirit and joy of the Shen Yun artists throughout the entire performance.
“It touches something deep inside … You can’t help but smile,” Mrs. Thomas said fondly. “It’s going to stay with me—long after we leave.”
Reporting by Chiawei Lin and Irene Luo
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.
