HOLLYWOOD, Calif.— On May 4, retired business manager Lisa Berggren treated her mother, actress Nancy Berggren, to Shen Yun Performing Arts’ matinee at the Dolby Theatre to celebrate her 92nd birthday. The duo had a wonderful time.
“The years and dedication that goes into a performance like this—it’s heartfelt. It’s divine for me. It’s exquisite. I’m so grateful, so grateful that my children bought my ticket so I could come today to celebrate my birthday.”
The production is comprised of a series of short pieces that take its audience on a ride through the dynasties and across the vast regions of China.
Using classical Chinese, folk, and ethnic dances, as well as solo musical performances, Shen Yun tells tales from ancient times to the modern day.
As an actress, Mrs. Berggren appreciated the comedic aspect of the story-based dances and “love that [the performers] were able to change characters.”
“They go from these serene, exquisite [beings] to being reckless or bad or naughty. It was just delightful,” she explained.
Ms. Berggren, too, thought the whole performance was “just spectacular.”
“The dancers were just incredible. Just incredible. The extensions and the leaps—it just was really, really special.”
Ms. Berggren especially enjoyed the solo performance by the erhu—an ancient Chinese instrument that is reminiscent of the human voice. Though it only has two strings, it is capable of expressing a wide range of emotions.
“That was so beautiful. She got so much music out of two strings. It’s just brilliant. That was special,” she shared. It took “years and years of practice, I’m sure.”
