LOS ANGELES— Trey Ditto, CEO of Ditto PR, watched Shen Yun Performing Arts for the first time with his daughter at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on January 24.
“This is like a new experience … I will remember this forever,” he added, “and I brought my daughter … so, having it as a shared new experience, it’s a lasting memory.”
Having never seen classical Chinese dance, Mr. Ditto was impressed with how comprehensive the dance system is.
With its flips and gentle elegance, classical Chinese dance is one of the most athletic and expressive art forms in the world. According to the company’s website, Shen Yun has preserved the true aesthetics of this classical dance system—the way it has been passed down from antiquity— and presents this authentic culture in its purest form.
One ancient instrument that patrons love to hear is the erhu, a traditional Chinese two-stringed “violin” that is capable of imitating the human voice and expressing a wide range of emotions.
Between the live music and the 3D animated backdrop, which allows the performers to remarkably travel back and forth between the stage and the background projection, Mr. Ditto was impressed with the “creative” layering of elements to each story.
“It took me a couple of times to figure out how [the dancers] went from the screen into the stage,” he said, “it was a really good touch because it kept people involved.”
“It showed a lot of creative experience [and] added that element to the story … I think that was really important,” he added.
“Not only was it good to come and be able to see a show, but also be reminded of what good values look like and how we should be treating other people … especially with tense times like this,” he said.
“It’s always a good reminder that we should love other people and be kind, patient, and compassionate,” he said.
China’s authentic culture is inseparable from its spiritual heritage—where a pantheon of divine beings and spiritual cultivators have shaped the civilization for centuries.
According to the company’s website, the presented heroes in the story-based dances embody the most exalted virtues of Chinese civilization and convey morals that are still relevant.
One of the virtues that Mr. Ditto found particularly moving was the display of mercy towards those who have wronged you.
“The first one to love wins,” he said, “no matter how someone treats you, you can choose to treat them fairly and well.”
“You don’t have to respond with hate,” he added, “you can love them back, and love will conquer hate every time.”
“One thing we learned in New York is the best shows on Broadway last the longest,” Mr. Ditto said, “the fact that [Shen Yun] is still going shows there is an appetite out there for this.”
“Every year they’re making a new show and every year people want to see it … so it’s great.”
