SEOUL—Korean art commentator Mr. Tak Gye-Seok was amazed by Shen Yun Performing Arts after seeing the company perform at the Sangmyung Art Center.
“Shen Yun showcased the dazzling traditional Chinese culture, and combined that with modern art technology,” said Mr. Tak. “This is indeed incredible!”
Mr. Tak won the Outstanding Artist Award and Commentator Award in this year’s Korean Art Commentators Association.
Mr. Tak was excited. Shen Yun “especially used novel multimedia techniques and presented brilliant ethnic dances from different regions,” he said. “It also put historical stories from different dynasties on the same stage. I am amazed.”
Shen Yun, a New York based company, presents the 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture through mini drama dance pieces.
“In less than ten minutes each, Shen Yun dances recount ancient myths, bygone heroes, or celestial paradises,” states the company’s website. “Whether set in the past or in contemporary China, every dance embodies traditional Chinese values. Ideals of loyalty, filial piety, and veneration for the divine are cherished and celebrated. Heroes are extolled for their compassion and tolerance as much as their courage or determination when facing adversity.”
Mr. Tak said the culture presented in the performance showed the positive nature of ancient China.
“I can see that the audiences are very excited,” he said. “This is a wonderful thing. Shen Yun communicates with the audiences through its artistic expression on stage.”
“There are many unique works in the performance and to be able to see them all on a same stage, it’s fantastic! I feel that all works carries the beauty from heaven,” Mr. Tak said. “As I watched the performance, I received a message of peace. I deeply echo with this message and believed that a peaceful mind is a wonderful thing.”
Classical Chinese dance is the heart of a Shen Yun performance, interspersed with ethnic and folk dances. The former dance system is both one of the oldest and hardest to master in the world.
Mr. Tak said he appreciated the overall coordination in the dancing—“superb”—and that the dancers as a whole presented a refined and harmonious arrangement.
“Each and every artist is part of the whole—perfectly well done,” he said. “It’s a supreme form of stage art.”
Accompanying the dancers, a unique orchestra deftly melds classical Western and traditional Chinese instruments.
The combination is used “in in such a flawless way that the timbres all blend together and highlight each other,” said Mr. Tak.
“Shen Yun’s music achievement is way ahead of the Korean national music and Western music.”
‘It is a unique experience’
City councilor Mr. Kim Gwang-Su watched Shen Yun’s final performance at the Sang Myung Art Center on April 16, 2013. He commented that Shen Yun presents the best quality of pure authentic cultural art. “The essence of Chinese culture is revived because of Shen Yun!” he said.
“It is a unique experience seeing the Chinese culture filled with creativity. Most of Korean dancing is soft and gentle. The classic Chinese dancing has larger movements, and it is more majestic and energetic.” he added.
“I had seen other performances when I travelled to China. It is obvious to me that they are far inferior to Shen Yun. Shen Yun presents traditional art, a different style with special charm and authentic Chinese culture,” he explained. “The classic dancing in Shen Yun demonstrates regional flavors that are very easily accepted by the audience. In the dancing there were also the values of virtue.”
Mr. Kim said he was also touched by Shen Yun’s state-of-the-art digital technology, which extends the stage and transports the audience to a world where heaven and earth are one.
“The animation on the backdrop was amazing. Shen Yun creates a different culture that combines tradition and modern. This is the first time I saw this kind of performance—it felt like I was in a dream,” he said.
Mr. Kim was most impressed with the performance’s first program. “In Descending to the World, the scene that shows the creation of mankind is spectacular!” he said. And also, in Dancing for the Gods, “The costumes are dazzling and luxurious. The colors are brilliant and unparalleled!”
“The live music is majestic and strong! The music and the dancing on the stage were one, perfectly bringing out the best of each other. I am very thrilled!” he added.
“When I watched Shen Yun, I saw the best of quality,” Mr. Kim concluded. “It’s pure, authentic cultural art. The essence of Chinese culture is revived because of Shen Yun! I believe that Shen Yun is a must-seen performance!”
Read the original Chinese articles[1]. [2]
Reporting by Li Ji-Seong and Hsin-Yi Lin
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
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