PHILADELPHIA—Retired fashion designer Irene Scolnick marveled at the costumes and props in Shen Yun Performing Arts on Saturday night.

“I enjoyed the fabric, and the way they used the fabric to dance and move with the sleeves and their body,” she said after seeing the performance at Merriam Theater. 

Classical Chinese dance is at the heart of Shen Yun, along with ethnic and folk dance. The New York-based company accentuates the dancers with handcrafted costumes and traditional stage props such as scarves, chopsticks, and swords. Each tell a story, such as an embroidery hoop seamlessly accenting a lady’s feminine grace, the company’s website states. 

“It put across a lot of inner-soul,” said Mrs. Scolnick. “It gave us a good feeling of how they felt through their interpretation of the way they moved with their clothing. Enjoyed it very much.”

Shen Yun’s mission is to present China’s 5,000-years of culture, which is believed to be divinely inspired. The dancers are accompanied by digital backdrops that transport the audience through space and time as well as a unique orchestra that blends classical Western instruments such as the violin, with classical Chinese instruments such as the gong.

“I will definitely tell plenty of people about it,” said Mrs. Scolnick. 

Mrs. Scolnick was accompanied by her husband Irv Scolnick, who owns a medical supply company. He also enthused about the performance.

“I’m enjoying it, and I am a sports guy,” he said, noting that he watched interviews with previous audience members before deciding to go.

“I said, hey let’s go and have a good time. And I’m having a good time,” he added.

Reporting by Li Jie and Zachary Stieber

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. 

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.