CYPRESS, Texas—Jeff Anderson, a vice president in marketing, saw Shen Yun Performing Arts on Feb. 1 at the CFISD Visual and Performing Arts Center.
“I think it’s beautiful. The skill level of the dancers is amazing, and they’re all so smooth. I think it’s fabulous,” Mr. Anderson said.
Shen Yun, based in New York, is on a mission to present “China before communism,” and revive people’s connection with 5,000 years of Chinese civilization and culture.
“The story is interesting. A lot of common themes there across different religions. You’ve got the traditions of the past [and] the overall idea of going back to heaven,” Mr. Anderson said.
Although Shen Yun is sharing the beauty of Chinese culture with the world, Shen Yun is unable to perform in China.
“What exactly are they scared of? Right? What would the leadership be afraid of?” Mr. Anderson asked.
Shen Yun’s ‘Costumes are Just Gorgeous’
William Dona, who works in construction, brought his wife, Paula, to this matinee performance.“I didn’t realize so much of it was based around culture. And it’s been a learning experience as well,” Mrs. Dona said.
Shen Yun’s artists are trained in classical Chinese dance, one of the most comprehensive dance systems in the world.
Mrs. Dona shared that their granddaughter, who dances, would love seeing Shen Yun.
“She would love it. We’re going to bring her next time because the costumes are just gorgeous. And I love looking at the colors. They’re fabulous,” Mrs. Dona said.
Shen Yun’s use of its digital backdrop is patented. The versatility of the technology allows the set to change scenes in the blink of an eye, giving the stage endless possibilities.
“I love the interface they’ve done with the screen. It’s just really a mesmerizing show. They’ve done an excellent job putting this together,” Mr. Dona said.
Mr. Dona has a good understanding of Chinese history, and he expressed his sadness that much of Chinese culture has been destroyed by the Chinese Communist Party.
“5,000 years of history—so much of it was lost when they burned all the books and destroyed everything. It’s a horrific story. It’s a shame that it’s locked out the way it is because there is so much that could be learned and shared,” Mr. Dona said, who also commented that he hopes Shen Yun will be successful at reviving Chinese culture.
Reporting by Sally Sun, Sonia Wu, and Maria Han.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.
