ZURICH, Switzerland—Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company’s second performance at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on March 22 was welcomed by the audience with anticipation and a desire to learn about China’s traditional culture.
Avid theater enthusiasts, Mr. Rogy Marty, director at the Swiss Compensation Office Verom, an agency similar to the U.S. Social Security, and his wife, Kohler Marty, called the performance “mystical and dignified.”
The New York-based dance company seeks to revive the 5,000-year-old traditions of China and show the “the deeper spiritual core of the ancient culture,” which were destroyed under six decades of communist rule, according to the company’s website.
“Shen Yun had something of a softness and displayed actions that didn’t need any surprise effect. It is calming and yet appealing,” Mr. Marty said.
He added that throughout the performance he felt free of the pressures of daily life.
“One can let go and relax,” he said.
Ms. Marty agreed and said, “Yes, relaxing and letting go of daily worries and shifting one’s thoughts to that country [China] to a given time that the particular scene represents. It provides great enrichment to the mind.”
Both were impressed by the animated backdrop scenes that blended seamlessley with the performance on stage, calling it “amazing,” and saying that they had never seen anything like it.
“The overall synchronization was amazing and incredible. I counted 18 women and 16 men that danced in such synchronization,” Mr. Marty said.
“This is the first time we have seen so many dancers that danced with such synchronization. Generally, there are no more than four to six dancers that are able to synchronize. This is unbelievably difficult. It can’t be compared to anything we have ever seen. Shen Yun provides harmony.”
Ms. Marty agreed and said, “Shen Yun is completely different from what we have seen and what we expected.”
Reporting by Alexander M. Hamrle
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company will next perform in Frankfurt, Germany, March 30-31.
For more information, please visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
