“Fantastic, very graceful, beautiful. The dancers are very skilled. It’s a great show,” Mr. Kallelis said.
The dance performances are accompanied by an orchestra that combines traditional Chinese and classical Western instruments. As well, the company features a patented animated backdrop setup that interacts with the dancers on the stage, and beautifully designed costumes and props that enhance the performance.
“I like that the [pieces are] short stories, and each one is different from the other. You go to some shows, and they run for two hours, and it’s the same story. It gets kind of old—a little boring. This one’s more interesting,” he said.
“For me it was, it’s the artistry, the dancing, the precision of the dancing and the production, it’s fantastic.”
‘There’s So Much Beauty and Divinity’
“It’s good to see it in a show like this,” said Mr. Monahan.
“I think it’s an important message for us all to see as Americans—not just Americans, but throughout the world. I think people need to see this, and people need to remember this,” added Ms. Monahan.
“I think it’s really significant,” said Mr. Monahan. “Belief in God ... [and the fact that] it’s not just about you and that you can’t be selfish, and it’s not always you first.”
According to Shen Yun’s website, the company’s vocalists use the bel canto technique to sing Chinese text, which is a very challenging skill to master. The website also explains that the lyrics sung by the vocalists are rich with meaning.
“Brimming with philosophical reflection about human life and containing deep layers of meaning, the texts go beyond the boundaries of nation, race, and culture, and have been fondly received and appreciated the world over,” the website says.
Mr. Monahan said from the song, he interpreted that “atheism and evolution” are leading the world’s people astray.
“It hits home,” he said.
“I don’t think people thought that—well, I didn’t think—that Chinese were so spiritual before communism. So it was good to see.”
Ms. Monahan added that she loved the colors, the history, and the storylines in the performance, while her husband praised the skills of the dancers as well as the “stories behind all the dances.”
“It was interesting and educational,” Mr. Monahan said.
