PARIS, France—Savita Mathur and Rafael Garcia came to see a colorful show that would introduce them to traditional Chinese culture, but the two astrophysicists discovered much more than that.
On Sunday, Jan. 25, the Spain-based astrophysics researcher and the director of astrophysics research were able to immerse themselves in the world of Shen Yun.
“Fantastic!” exclaimed Mrs. Mathur. “Everything is coherent and remarkably interpreted.”
The Shen Yun orchestra is unique, combining a Western symphony orchestra with Eastern instruments such as the erhu, pipa, and gong.
“It fits perfectly with dance,” added Rafael Garcia. “The whole thing is very coherent.”
Rafael Garcia said he was surprised to discover the specific characteristics of Chinese classical dance: “I learned that many of these movements are part of traditional dance. I imagined it was gymnastics, but in reality, it’s not like that at all.”
Indeed, classical Chinese dance is one of the most comprehensive dance systems in the world, combining postures, movements, and acrobatics. Its techniques draw on thousands of years of practice in ethnic and folk dances, street theater, and imperial court dances.
“They deserve even more credit for spreading this information around the world.”
The two astrophysicists were moved by Shen Yun’s current situation: although the eight companies perform in countries around the world, they are still unable to go to communist China.
“It is unfortunately surprising that this type of show is not allowed to be performed in China, and it is not normal,” Mr. Garcia emphasized.
“They are brave!” observed Mr. Garcia, “and above all, it’s excellent for us Europeans to discover all this because I didn’t know about this reality and I couldn’t imagine that it was forbidden in China.”
“They deserve even more credit for spreading this information around the world. So, it’s very commendable of them. I imagine it must be difficult for them, too, because they can’t go back to China, given that they’re putting on this show,” added Mrs. Mathur.
Savita Mathur said she particularly enjoyed the dance scenes based on meditation. “I didn’t know it was so deeply rooted in traditional Chinese culture.” The astrophysicist also said she was happy to learn more about the concept of the Creator in Chinese spirituality.
“It’s just an amazing combination of dance, colors, and music! We discover both great aesthetic beauty and a rich culture that we know very little about,” concluded Rafael Garcia.
