Shen Yun Performing Arts dazzled audiences at the Dailes Theatre in Riga, Latvia, on Jan. 3, with scenes from 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture portrayed through classical Chinese dance and music.
“I’m amazed by the overall structure. The performance is fantastic. We haven’t seen anything like this for a very long time. Amazing dancers, just amazing!” said Vitālijs Sidaravičus, a judge for the Latvijas Dance Sport Federation.
“Those 12 women who manage to change costumes within a couple of minutes, and the men, well, that’s something completely unpredictable. These are not just dancers, they are super dancers, top-class. So thank you for bringing them to us,” he said.
Vestards Šimkus, a pianist and a composer, said: “As a musician myself, I am very pleased that both Western classical instruments and traditional Chinese instruments can sound so natural, organic, and harmonious together.”
Valentīna Sidaravičus, also a judge for the Latvijas Dance Sport Federation, said: “I didn’t even expect it to affect me so strongly, so deeply.”
She said: “This is not acrobatics, as many people say. It’s far from acrobatics. It’s probably closer to qigong. Every movement comes from within. Every jump is first fully worked through in terms of volume and inner content. And it really touched me, it touched me.”
Elīna Šimkus, an opera singer, said: “I’m very happy and impressed by the synchronization and the highest level of professionalism in everything they do. The music, together with the dance artistry, it’s probably the ultimate embodiment of beauty in every aspect: music, dance, precision, vitality, smiles, faces, energy, costumes, colors, video projections. It’s like a fantastic essence of pure beauty. And on top of that, of course, there’s the Divine message.”
Mr. Šimkus said: “The first thing that comes to mind when watching this magnificent dance performance is that it is extremely beautiful. The beauty in it is developed to the highest degree possible for a human being. And I am also very moved by the spiritual dimension of this production’s message. The fact that we receive spiritual inspiration that is truly Divine.”
Aija Dvinska, a yoga instructor, said: “I felt there were moments of a kind of uplifting energy and a glimpse of Divinity if you really allow yourself to experience it.”
Mr. Šimkus said, “I think this whole dance performance is the best way to introduce people to the richness of traditional Chinese culture. As I said, spiritual values are very much emphasized here. I am a religious person myself, so while watching all this, I resonated very much with what I saw.”
Ms. Šimkus said: “So far, this show embodies the absolute essence of what is important in our family, the beauty of culture, absolute Divine beauty, truth, and traditional values. A truly beautiful, magnificent performance with cultural elements based on traditional, true values.”
