WATERBURY, Conn.—Shen Yun Performing Arts graced the stage at the Palace Theater on Wednesday evening, pleasing the audience with an artistic presentation of the ancient Chinese culture.
With a foundation of classical Chinese dance—both one of the most comprehensive dance systems and one of the hardest to master—Shen Yun transports audiences throughout time (from the dawn of the civilization through different dynasties and eras), as well as space (across the vast land of China).
Tim Molnar, who attended the performance with a group of friends, said he dances and creates music as a way to experience other cultures. “That’s why this was perfect,” he said.
Mr. Molnar said he noticed the beauty of the costumes and how they accent the graceful movement of the dancers.
“It’s almost as if they float.”
The dancers are accompanied by digital backdrops and an orchestra the deftly melds classical Western and traditional Chinese instruments, such as the 4,000-year-old erhu, or two-stringed Chinese violin. The mini drama dance pieces, which depict different minority ethnic groups and stories and legends, are interspersed with award-winning vocal soloists.
Shen Yun, based in New York, was formed by a group of overseas classical Chinese artists who wanted to revive the divinely inspired culture after it was nearly destroyed by the Chinese Communist Party, according to the company’s website.
“We are artists from around the world united by a shared mission,” states the website. “We came together in New York and set out to revive a lost heritage. Our greatest joy comes from sharing this passion with the world.”
Mr. Molnar said the dancers of Shen Yun made the highly difficult movements seem easy.
“Clearly it’s not,” he said, “but they make it look very fluid and effortless.”
Reporting by Can Sun and Zachary Stieber.
Shen Yun Performing Arts, based in New York, tours the world on a mission to revive traditional Chinese culture. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
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