OSAKA, Japan—There is no ceiling in the pursuit to be better in art. For Shen Yun Performing Arts, giving the audience the best it can is something the company strives for in every performance.
“What is most unforgettable is the coordination among all the dancers and their outstanding dance skills. I’m curious of how many rehearsals they’ve had,” remarked Marika Kisana, the owner of a performance company and a former member of the Osaka Shochiku Kagekidan (OSK) Japanese Opera Troupe.
Shen Yun rehearses every detail until the dancers are able to achieve great unity in their movements.
“As a dancer, I believe achieving such a high level of coordination is rarely seen,” said Ms. Kisana.
“Those emotionally charged group dances were especially fantastic—they were incredibly expressive. The dancers’ body language is unforgettable,” said Ms. Kisana.
Classical Chinese dance requires women to be graceful and light on their feet, while the men should be strong and gallant.
“The male dancers’ leaping and aerial movements deeply impressed me ... The female long-sleeve dance also touched my heart,” shared Ms. Kisana.
“The backdrop and the foreground cleverly blend together, extending the stage, providing the audience with double the enjoyment,” she noted.
“It’s powerful. [The music] blends perfectly with the dance, making the entire performance mysterious and charming,” said Ms. Kisana.
Hikaru Manase and Aika Mimori were also former members of the OSK Opera Troupe.
“I cannot perform movements like backflips or somersaults myself, but for Shen Yun dancers, these seem to be basic,” said Ms. Manase.
Ms. Manase noticed that “the text touched upon faith and the divinity.”
“The texts were very good, powerful, and profound,” added Ms. Mimori.
“The performance presents this to the audience through the background. It showcased the connection between humans and gods in a clear and visible way, which was very impressive,” she commented.
It was Ms. Mimori’s second time seeing Shen Yun. Every year, Shen Yun puts on an all-new production so returning audiences always have something fresh to look forward to.
‘Shen Yun’s Form and Content Will Become a New Trend in Performing Arts’
On Jan. 16, Yumemi Asaki, a former Takarazuka Revue actress and current musical actress, was in the audience at the Orix Theater.
As someone who is also in the industry of stage performances, Ms. Asaki shared: “I feel that there is much to learn and reference from Shen Yun, and it is worth recommending to peers.”
“The moment the long sleeves were thrown out in the water sleeves dance was truly beautiful. I also loved the gorgeous costumes and colors. The dance depicting yellow blossoms was also breathtaking. The Mongolian dance for men was very handsome,” praised Ms. Asaki.
Ballet Teacher Praises Shen Yun’s Dancers
Hiromi Ito is a ballet teacher and the representative of the Hiro Kondo Ballet Company. She thought that Shen Yun’s dancers were spectacular.
“There were plenty of lively spinning movements, graceful rotations, as well as light and gentle spins that were delightful and captivating. The astonishing techniques of the dancers and the beauty made one’s heart pound,” said Ms. Ito.
“Without a single line of dialogue, they convey rich information. Through extensive body movements, gestures, and the visual effects of the background, the stories presented were full of artistic charm,” praised Ms. Ito.
With the aid of props, costumes, and the digital backdrop, history is brought back to life.
“The plot transitions with the digital backdrop were handled extremely cleverly, leaving people wanting to see more,” she said.
