“[It’s] visually stunning and in many ways, good for the soul. It’s invigorating. It revitalizes,” he said.
“[There’s] nothing quite like it!”
The college president saw the performance for the first time at Marion Oliver McCaw Hall in Seattle, Washington, on April 4.Sensory Wonder
Adams was blown away by the colors and spectacle of the performance, describing the performance as a “sensory wonder.”The performance was so visually captivating that it got Adams thinking of “the Earth, and the beauty of creation, and the beauty of the earth, and all the colors we see.”
Not only was the the show visually stimulating, the college president also felt an energy coming from the performers on stage.
“I’m certainly invigorated by it,” he said. “How could you not be? Really? How could you not be invigorated by the show? It’s powerful.”
“And to think that what humanity can do; the way humanity can move, with such grace, with such beauty, with such strength, sometimes it’s just power.”
“And, but to see it all, so ... under control,” Adams said, in awe of the artists.
For many Shen Yun performers this means the focusing on maintaining their character, such that a positive inner spirit may shine through in their dancing.
The dancers’ discipline impressed Adams.
“[The] professionalism is rather stunning, and the fact that everybody is so in sync, it’s sort of that discipline you would expect from the culture,” he said.
Restoring Culture
The college president was drawn to Shen Yun’s mission to restore traditional Chinese culture, which to a large extent has been lost due to its systematic destruction over the course of seven decades of communist rule in China.Adams said it was wonderful to see China’s traditions expressed so faithfully in the performance, uncorrupted by modern developments and trends.
“I think it’s always a vital thing to do, to always remember culture, to never forget it, and certain cultural practices need to stay with us forever,” he said. “They need to be passed down from generation to generation.”
The president said there was a uniqueness to this culture that he hasn’t seen before, leaving a distinct impression on him.
Asked whether he would recommend the performance to his friends, Adams replied, “Of course, without question.”