NEW YORK—As Shen Yun wrapped up its Saturday evening performance at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater, it gained a new fan in Bridget Tsoma.
Ms. Tsoma, who works at the Scandinavian Tourist Board, called Shen Yun’s performance “the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
Shen Yun, with three companies touring around the world simultaneously, aims to revive traditional Chinese culture and performing arts.
“The dancers are so elegant and graceful,” Ms. Tsoma said. “I am so happy I get to see this,” she added.
Several of Shen Yun’s pieces evoke stories and legends from China’s 5,000 years of history. “It feels like a fairy tale,” she said. “I feel like it’s really authentic.” The authenticity of Shen Yun’s pieces has been well documented. The costumes and backdrops are colorful and engaging. “Inspired by 5,000 years of history, these spectacular landscapes truly reflect China’s multifaceted geography, society, regions, and dynasties,” says Shen Yun’s website. “Some scenes even transcend this world, entering a heavenly palace were fairies dance amidst mystical clouds or peering into the solemn majesty of a Buddhist paradise.”
“The story comes out” of the pieces, Ms. Tsoma said, citing the dance entitled The Choice, which portrays two friends in modern day China, each faced with a choice between good and evil. While no words were spoken, the vivid expressions, exact movements and postures, and the musical score accompanying the expressions were able to convey the story and its emotions.
“It doesn’t look like it’s easy. But they make it look so easy for them,” she added.
When asked about her work, Ms. Tsoma replied, “We focus on all the five Scandinavian countries,” referring to the countries of Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Finland, and Sweden. “We promote them, the tourism here in the North America. So we try to get Americans to travel to Scandinavia.”
She will likely remember her experience for a long time. “I can’t get over it… I really, really enjoy it,” Ms. Tsoma concluded.
Another audience member, Maria Reyes, who owns a travel agency in New Jersey, also singled out “The Choice,” stating that it conveyed a message.
“The Choice. It’s very… it’s simple. The story is very simple,“ Ms. Reyes said. ”I think that’s my [favorite] part.”
“I like the way they choreograph it. You can actually see… the love story of those two and how they fell apart and how they came back,” she said.
With reporting by Alec Wong and Franklin Yu.
Shen Yun Performing Arts, based in New York, has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world, with a mission to revive traditional Chinese culture. Shen Yun Performing Arts Touring Company will perform at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center through April 22.
For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
