CHICAGO—College professor Mary Tarling saw Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company at the Civic Opera House on April 22 with her father and daughter. “I think it’s fantastic—very, very, very well-done!” she said.
Ms. Tarling teaches at Aurora University and had wonderful things to say about New York-based Shen Yun: “The message behind it, the costuming, the ability level … was fantastic. Absolutely fantastic!”
Shen Yun aims to revitalize the lost traditions of 5,000 years of Chinese culture. It does so through dance—classical Chinese dance and folk dances—and through music, featuring a full orchestra that combines Eastern and Western instrumentation and solo vocalists with piano accompaniment.
“The music was excellent. The quality of the music and the orchestra behind it was absolutely excellent. I thought it was fantastic.” she said.
Ms. Tarling’s father, Clyde Keller, is an environmental engineer and lover of dance. “It was very, very polished, very crisp, very different,” he said of the show.
‘A Wonderful Experience’
New York-based Shen Yun uses story-based dances to tell of ancient legends and modern stories of courage.
“I just enjoyed being there. The music was wonderful, and the costumes were striking—very relaxing to watch performers of that caliber,” Mr. Keller said.
Heley Tarling is Mary Tarling’s daughter and a dance student. She has studied everything from ballet to pop dance.
“I thought it was absolutely excellent. I just can’t believe how strong they are and their ability levels, costumes, and the music, and everything that they are able to do,” Ms. Heley Tarling said.
Ms. Mary Tarling would recommend the show to her colleagues: “It’s a wonderful experience. It really is a wonderful experience.”
Reporting by Valerie Avore.
Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company will perform at Chicago’s Civic Opera House through April 24. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
