PHILADELPHIA—Shen Yun Performing Arts delighted audience members at the Miller Theater on April 19. Matt Hillman, president of EdTech, said, “Just seeing a different culture on stage has been wonderful.”
Shen Yun features a patented digital backdrop that interacts with the performers as they jump in and out of the magical landscape, which intrigued Mr. Hillman.
“The CGI effects—that was surprising. I wasn’t anticipating that as a part of the show, so I thought that was really interesting. Just seeing them come off the screen and onto the stage adds another dimension to the performance,” he said.
Shen Yun’s mission is to revive China’s traditional culture before communism. The stories that Shen Yun presents on stage show the positive universal values that uplifted and guided society for 5,000 years, like compassion and tolerance.
Mr. Hillman agreed that preserving tradition is very important for cultures today. “I think it’s very important to always preserve cultures and to be able to see another culture on stage. It’s not something I see regularly, so I think it’s really great to get exposed to,” he said.
“I just think that the dancing and the music alone and the cultural exposure are worth seeing. It’s a light and fun two hours,” Mr. Hillman said.
Mother and Son Have Enjoyed Shen Yun for Years
Raymond Bryan and his mother, Cathy, have seen Shen Yun many seasons and were anticipating another wonderful performance.
Mr. Bryan, a banquet manager for a hotel, said, “I like that it is not typical ballet, and I like that you have the screen, the interaction between the screen and real life.”
Shen Yun’s patented digital backdrop delights theatergoers with the way it interacts with the performers.
Ms. Bryan was entranced by the graceful steps of the dancers. “It is good. I like their little feet movement.”
Mr. Bryan said he especially enjoys Shen Yun’s live orchestra. Both Eastern and Western instruments perform original music to accompany the dancers on stage. “When we first started coming, we would stay at the hotel across the street because the orchestra stayed there, so we could see the orchestra,” Mr. Bryan said. “It’s incredible.”
