DAYTON, Ohio—The combination of Western instruments and Eastern instruments presented by Shen Yun Performing Arts definitely impressed musician Jessica Blaza. “Even though I am of Asian descent, I mostly trained in Western music. So the addition of the Eastern instruments really impressed me and the combination between the two just created a piece that was beyond anything that I’ve heard before,” she said. “The music was absolutely amazing.”
“Through the universal language of music and dance, Shen Yun weaves a wondrous tapestry of heavenly realms, ancient legends, and modern heroic tales, taking you on a journey through 5,000 years of Chinese culture,” according to the New York-based company’s website.
Each year the company brings to the world an entirely new performance, from its choreography to its music.
“The compositions were spectacular and the musicians were very professional and refined,” she said. Ms. Blaza, primarily plays the clarinet, but her other instruments include the piano, hand bells, violin, and harp. Last spring she performed at Carnegie Hall.
Despite her love of music, Ms. Blaza’s is following her family footsteps toward a vocation in medicine as she studies to become a nurse. She attended Shen Yun with her parents, both doctors, at Dayton’s Mead Theatre on Feb. 25.
Dr. John Blaza, a surgeon, felt right at home watching Chinese culture unfold before his eyes. Of Phillipino descent, he feels that his culture shares the same the roots as the Chinese. “I have Chinese blood in my veins running,” he said, and so he really enjoyed hearing the “centuries old stories about China, and their culture.”
The ancient stories are depicted through classical Chinese dance, which Jessica’s mother, Dr. Glenda Blaza, in internal medicine, enjoyed. She mentioned the choreography and the dancing.
Feeling the same way, Dr. John Blaza said, “I love the performers, [and] the spectacular colorful array of costumes.”
“And also the animated … interactive backdrop was really something that everybody should take a look for themselves,” he added.
Shen Yun is known for its unique digital animation on the screen that seems to interact with the performers.
“It is really, really, a very wholesome family entertainment and everybody should go watch for themselves,” Dr. John Blaza said.
“I’m going to tell my staff and the patients tomorrow,” Dr. Glenda added.
Reporting by NTD Televsion and Sharon Kilarski
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.
