NEW YORK—Shen Yun Performing Arts, a New York-based dance and music company, is set on reviving one of the oldest cultures on Earth. Still, its production leaves in awe many professionals in modern tech-heavy industries.
Mr. Eddie Nuvakhov should know, being a producer and chief executive officer (CEO) of LNC Productions, a New York-based production company focusing on video advertising.
Mr. Nuvakhov shared his impression of Shen Yun after its Saturday afternoon performance in the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in Manhattan.
He was impressed by Shen Yun’s ability to blend old and new, using technology to bring to life ancient culture.
“I love how the technology is integrated into it,” he said, referring to Shen Yun’s large-scale animated backdrop, with which performers interact, as if entering or emerging from the backdrop projection.
During folk and ethnic dances, the backdrop displays scenes that transport viewers to the region, whether it be the snowy peaks of Tibet or the grasslands of Mongolia. Other dance pieces are story-based, inspired by historical stories and legends. For those stories, the backdrop allows dancers to seemingly fly off into the heavens or disappear into the sea.
“I really think this is fantastic,” Mr. Nuvakhov said. “So original.”
Shen Yun Performing Arts was founded in 2006 with a mission to revive the 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture. It uses mainly classical Chinese dance, but also musical soloists, and features ethnic and folk dances.
“The performance is amazing,” Mr. Nuvakhov said. “You walk through the history of China and you see different cultures and you see different components.”
The live music then adds another dimension.
Shen Yun Performing Arts Orchestra proved to seamlessly blend Western orchestra with traditional Chinese instruments—a feat many have tried and failed, according to the Shen Yun website. Vocal soloists use the Western bel canto technique, but sing in Chinese—a rare experience as well.
Mr. Nuvakhov said the music was fantastic and he paid several compliments to one of the soloists. “She was so good—like really good,” he said. “She had a great voice.”
Reporting by NTD Television and Petr Svab
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has four touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time. We have proudly covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.
