NEW YORK—On April 2, company director Patrick Dempsey enjoyed Shen Yun’s matinee at the David H. Koch Theater. He was mesmerized by the beauty of the production and the depth of traditional Chinese culture.
“I think the costumes, the poetry behind the dancing, the stories—all that stuff is fantastic,” he said. “The talent of the people on the stage is just absolutely amazing. It’s really well presented, and the technology as they jump into the screens looks very cool as well. I really enjoy that.”
According to the company’s website, Shen Yun’s innovative digital technology creates seamless interaction between the backdrop projection and the performers on stage. “By extending the stage to infinite realms,” this patented 3D invention brings to the audience “storytelling without limits.”
“It’s incredible. The [animation] looks like it’s actually happening. The special effects are amazing,” Mr. Dempsey added.
Based in New York, Shen Yun is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company dedicated to reviving China’s rich culture, nearly lost under decades of communist rule. Its performances feature a series of short dances highlighting various regions of China, as well as solo musical pieces.
Mr. Dempsey loved how “very, very immersive” the experience was. “I feel like we’re part of the whole exhibition,” he said. “It’s incredible and the orchestra—it’s unbelievable how well they played.”
Each of Shen Yun’s eight equally-sized companies includes a live orchestra that accompanies the dancers. Built on a foundation of classical Western orchestration, Shen Yun’s original compositions feature traditional Chinese instruments such as the two-stringed erhu and the pipa, an ancient lute.
He also appreciated the company’s mission to bring back China’s 5,000 years of divinely inspired culture, as well as raise awareness for the human rights issues still ongoing in China under communist rule.
“It’s very important,” Mr. Dempsey said. “A lot’s changed in the last 75 years, and it would be nice see [China] go back to some traditional values and customs and cultures.
“I think [Shen Yun’s] message is to bring back some of those things which made China great.”
He encourages the artists to continue their work and will definitely be recommending the experience to all his friends and family.
“I would [tell people that] Shen Yun is an outstanding experience,” he said. “If you like musicals, if you like stories, if you like great instrumentalists—it’s definitely something you want to experience.”
