SEATTLE—Manager of business development Troy Olsen “really enjoyed” Shen Yun Performing Arts at Seattle’s McCaw Hall on April 8.
He was impressed with the professional quality of Shen Yun. “I thought it was excellent. [It’s] the first time I’ve ever seen something like that. It was kind of nice to see some insights into the culture with a little bit of modern opinion.”
“I think it’s really important,” Olson said. “I think culture is what roots us. It’s where we get our base. So I think it’s really important.”
He said he learned much about Chinese culture from the performance. “Expressiveness, it was beautiful. It was easy to follow along.”
He could feel energy “from the people that created the show. I think it’s again, rooted in their culture and what they’re bringing out.”
Olsen said he liked the stories about divine beings. “It makes me want to learn more about the culture or read more about it.”
“I think the world should see it. Frankly, I think we should get to know everybody’s culture a little bit better,” he said.
“It was interesting, it was different. I was not expecting that at all. Don’t be offended: ‘A little Monty Python meets culture,’ which was kind of cool. But yes, it was the first time I’ve seen something like that.”
When asked if he would recommend Shen Yun to his friends, Olsen said, “Yes. I already have” and described Shen Yun as “a bucket list item.”
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Psychologist and researcher Jose Ramirez said Saturday night was his second time seeing Shen Yun. “I saw it in Japan just before COVID, in 2017 or 18. It was amazing. I really loved it, and ever since then, I wanted to see it again.”This performance, Ramirez said, “was amazing. The dancing, the music, sort of the way they glide through the stage, it’s just wonderful. I loved it.”
His favorite scene was “Water Sleeves.” And in terms of the music, although he had never heard it played before, the erhu touched him the most.
“It just sort of made me feel that peace and calm. It was just very nice. It was very touching,” he said.
“I feel like there’s a joy in their dancing and telling their story. I just think they’re just sort of very happy and proud to show just sort of their performances. I love that,” he said.He noted the spiritual quality Shen Yun shared with the audience. “I loved it. I think it’s amazing. It sort of connects us to where we come from, where we are in terms of the cycle of life.”
Asked if he would recommend Shen Yun, Ramirez said, “I definitely would. In fact, I brought my sisters because I just wanted them to also experience the same thing.”
He described his experience as “enthusiastic, just sort of colorful, bright, sort of filled with just passion and joy for music. I love it.”
