PHOENIX—On the afternoon of March 5, Shen Yun Performing Arts presented its first performance of the season at Symphony Hall, launching this year’s series of performances in Phoenix. The theater was filled to capacity, with audience members expressing joy, amazement, and enthusiasm throughout the event.
Among those in attendance were Serena Remy, senior vice president of Marketing and Communications at the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, and her father, Doug Remy, a chief financial officer.
“It was incredible. It was mesmerizing,” Ms. Remy said. “I always get really captivated by different dance forms, but this one was absolutely stunning to see.”
“I studied with some great, professional artists, but I never went on with the career,” Ms. Remy said. “However, it was incredible seeing their performance today,” referring to Shen Yun artists.
Watching Shen Yun for the first time, Ms. Remy said she noticed many similarities between ballet and classical Chinese dance.
“I saw many of the similarities between the ballet that I studied and classical Chinese dance,” she said. “But there was also such fluidity and an energy to the performance. I really, really enjoyed it.”
She added that the dancers’ expressive movements also inspired her own continued dance practice.
“It was really the fluidity of their movements that stood out to me—something I would want to incorporate into the dance I still practice,” Ms. Remy said.
“The stories were incredible,” she said. “It was interesting to see so many stories brought together in one performance. I didn’t expect that.”
Her father, Mr. Remy, a chief financial officer, likewise praised Shen Yun as a “visually stunning” and highly enjoyable performance.
“I really liked the stories because they help you follow the dance,” he added. “They help you understand what’s going on on stage. In some other performances I’ve seen, like opera or certain symphony performances, you can’t really tell what they’re singing or dancing about.”
“I learned a little more about the history of China, which I didn’t know a lot about,” he said. “It was just a really beautiful performance.”
He added that the show also helped him understand why the Chinese communist regime does not allow Shen Yun to perform in China.
“When I saw the first few dance numbers, I was wondering what might be objectionable to the Chinese government,” Mr. Remy said. “But then when they showed the communist sickle symbol, I understood that they probably didn’t like it because they were portrayed in a not flattering light.”
Ms. Remy added that, beyond the dance itself, learning about Falun Dafa and traditional Chinese culture was also meaningful to her.
“While the dance was what captivated me the most, learning about Falun Dafa and the traditions that exist was also interesting,” Ms. Remy said. “It was something I didn’t really expect, so it was great to gain that additional understanding.”
