WASHINGTON—Matthew Monfore, who works in conservative media, saw Shen Yun Performing Arts on Jan. 18 at the Trump Kennedy Center Opera House.
“You’re learning history and Chinese culture [which has] been hidden from the world. So you have legends and stories, and the accounts that they share of good triumphing over evil,” Mr. Monfore said.
Shen Yun’s artists are trained in classical Chinese dance, one of the most comprehensive dance systems in the world.
“I’m paying attention to the really well-done choreography. I really enjoyed the pairs that were done between male and female,” Mr. Monfore said.
Ben Kaffo, a retired U.S. Army colonel, was also in the audience for this matinee performance.
“I see the strength in the culture, in how it’s transferred from generation to generation,” Mr. Kaffo 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 history is melted into the culture,” Mr. Kaffo said. “China is big, but there are so many cultures inside of it. It’s interesting how the culture, even till now, is still maintained.”
When the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) came to power, it systematically destroyed and distorted Chinese culture and history. Mr. Kaffo said it was interesting to see what China was like before communism.
“It’s interesting to see the impact of communism inside of China, and how the culture and the heritage has been able to withstand it. The culture and the tradition still remains. Even though you have distractions that come into the culture. The culture still remains,” he said.
The CCP is built on an atheist ideology, but Mr. Kaffo feels that, despite what is happening to traditional Chinese culture, it is most important to look to the divine for guidance.
“It is very inspiring. It makes me feel—no matter what distraction is going on, you have to remain connected. And no matter what is happening left and right, and all the distractions will go away. Don’t get soaked into the distractions. Go focus on heaven and focus on eternity, and the distraction will eventually pass through. That’s what I see in this,” he 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.
“The beauty that I saw is how the show is designed from the transfer of the video into the stage, and the stage back into the video. The connection is very interesting,” he said. “You almost feel like this person just appeared out of the video. The transformation is so seamless—boom, it’s there, so I really like that.”
