NEW YORK—“It looks like they were flowing through the air!” exclaimed art dealer Lorraine Kessler after watching Shen Yun Performing Arts at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater on Friday.
Shen Yun draws from the ancient belief that Chinese culture was transmitted to humans by the divine, according to the company’s website. Principles from the Buddhist and Taoist tradition are explored during the two-and-a-half hour show, through story-based dances that portray the ancient folklore and modern tales of China.
“It was a visual treat,” said Ms. Kessler.
“The colors and the costumes were very beautiful,” she said. Each season hundreds of handmade costumes are produced for the 20 or so pieces that compose a Shen Yun performance.
According to the company’s website, “Shen Yun’s costume artists collect countless designs of traditional attire, ranging from those of emperors, ministers, and generals to the everyday clothing of the common people. They use bright colors to tailor and recreate hundreds of new pieces each season. Every detail is given meticulous attention and is a result of artistic inspiration and careful polishing.”
Ms. Kessler said, “The scenery in the background was very effective—very, very effective.”
The company notes that with “state-of-the-art graphics technology, Shen Yun’s digital-backdrop team creates vividly animated settings, extending the stage and transporting the audience to a world where heaven and earth are one.”
The beauty of the performance reminded Ms. Kessler of the power of art. “All art is inspiring,” she said. “You have to live through the arts. The arts make the world alive.”
Ms. Kessler was excited to have learned about another culture through the evening’s music and dance. “It’s very exciting to have something like that in New York,” she said.
Reporting by NTD Television and Annie Wu
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has four touring companies that perform around the world. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time. We have proudly covered audience reaction since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.
