SANTA BARBARA, Calif.—Brian Kerner, a director for a non-profit, attended Shen Yun Performing Arts with his friend Stephanie Kirlin, at the Granada Theatre on March 30.
Mr. Kerner is the development director for a non-profit organization called Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation, which provides financial and emotional support to families of children with cancer.
“I thought it was fantastic,” said Mr. Kerner of the night’s performance. “It was amazing.”
Established in 2006, New York-based Shen Yun is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing 5,000 years of Chinese culture to life through the performing arts. Having reached millions of people across nearly 20 countries and over 100 cities, Shen Yun has become widely regarded as a global phenomenon.
Mr. Kerner seemed to particularly enjoy the show’s use of a digital backdrop.
“It’s pretty incredible because characters jump out of the screen and jump back in,” explained Mr. Kerner. “It makes you part of the story. You float with them.”
According to the Shen Yun website, “With state-of-the-art graphics technology, Shen Yun’s digital-backdrop team creates vividly animated settings, extending the stage and transporting the audience to a world where heaven and earth are one.”
Another highlight for Mr. Kerner were the “amazing” dancers.
“It’s amazing how all of them work together as a team, and they all flow as one unison part,” he said. “There’re so many on stage. It’s pretty amazing to watch them work together.”
Ms. Kirlin, who also works for a non-profit, appeared to enjoy the performance as much as her friend.
“It’s amazing. It’s beautiful,” she exclaimed. “I love the interaction of the dancers and the history behind it also, because I’ve studied a lot of history and comparative literature, so I see it within the dance as well.”
As the website states, “A Shen Yun performance features the world’s foremost classically trained dancers, a unique orchestra blending East and West, and dazzling animated backdrops—together creating one spectacular performance.”
Reporting by Lu Rusong and Morgan Bradley
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
