NEW YORK–When Councilman Robert Karabinchak from Edison, New Jersey, saw Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Lincoln Center April 27, he thought it was too good to be true.
“The dance, the costumes, the music is unbelievable,” he said. “I love it.”
A New York based performance company, Shen Yun is dedicated to reviving China’s five thousand year culture through the performing arts.
“Humanity’s treasure was nearly lost, but through breathtaking music and dance, Shen Yun is bringing back this glorious culture,” the company’s website explains.
For Councilman Karabinchak, it was the rich tapestry of China’s history presented in Shen Yun that was particularly engaging.
“The stories that are told during the dance is what’s intriguing to me,” he said. “They talk about the history and how things change.”
He recalled one of the performances When Shaolin Monks Protected The Emperor which depicts the life of young Buddhist monks in a Shaolin Monastery. In a playful moment, the monks catch a rabbit and consider what to do with it. Ultimately their decision is tied to a fierce battle in which they save a famous Tang Dynasty emperor and become part of history.
“This is bringing history back to today’s society so people can see it and enjoy it,” Councilman Karabinchak said. “I think it’s great.”
“I'd recommend for everybody to come and see it,” he said.
Modern Scenes in Shen Yun Commended
Dr. George Kardashian, an orthopedic surgeon, found Shen Yun educational and powerful,” he said. He particularly enjoyed the diversity of views of China presented by Shen Yun—this year’s performance includes a Mongolian bowl dance, a Bai ethnic dance, and a dance of the ethnic Yi people.
It was the contemporary scenes, however, that Dr Kardashian felt compelled by.
Shen Yun offers a rare view of China under communist rule, where traditional culture has all but been stamped out. In one dance sequence, titled An Unexpected Encounter, a father and daughter become caught up in the persecution of conscience in China. They encounter Falun Dafa practitioners bravely holding a banner which reads, “Truthfulness Compassion, Tolerance,” They are all attacked thrown in jail by the police, including the father and daughter who were merely bystanders.
“I knew about the crackdown,” Dr Kardashian said, “ I knew about it before but it is definitely a good idea to expose it to the public.”
Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) is a meditation practice that is based on truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance, and has helped over 100 million people return to the essence of traditional Chinese culture, according to Shen Yun’s website.
Dr Kardashian said many people were unaware of the persecution against Falun Dafa in China, which has been going on since 1999, and commended Shen Yun for exposing it.
“It definitely gives it a voice and exposure,” he said, “I think its a great idea.”
Reporting by NTD Television and Shar Adams
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
Shen Yun Performing Arts is performing at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center through April 28.
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.
