LOS ANGELES—Gerald Schmidt could not contain his delight after watching the first half of the final performance of the world-renowned Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company at the Nokia Theater on March 23.
“Oh, I love it. It’s absolutely fantastic. Very beautiful, very well done so far. I think the rest will be fantastic,” he said excitedly during the intermission.
Mr. Schmidt, owner of GHSchmidt woodworking, is an artist specializing in free-form wood carvings and sculptures. He has 40 years of experience working with wood.
He had high praise for the performance. “I love the drop back where the shadow goes onto the screen, and then the dancers come back out from behind the stage. I think it’s fantastic. They really did a great job,” said Mr. Schmidt. “The color’s fantastic, very nice, vivid, very outgoing. I think they’ve just done a fantastic job.”
According to the Shen Yun website, “These digital backdrop designs complement and synchronize all aspects of the performance: the characters, color of the costumes, specific dance movements, props, lighting, the story being told, particular notes played by the orchestra, and special audio effects.”
Mr. Schmidt continued to express his delight: “The grace and the movement of the dance crew, the music, and just the gracefulness, and the storytelling, is fantastic.”
The website explains, “Chinese dance is at the heart of what Shen Yun does. Known for its incredible flips and spins, and its gentle elegance, it is one of the most rigorous and expressive art forms in the world.”
Independent and nonprofit, New York-based Shen Yun was established in 2006 by artists from around the world with the mission to revive China’s divinely inspired traditional Chinese culture through music and dance.
Touched by the beauty of the Chinese culture conveyed by Shen Yun, Mr. Schmidt said, “The culture of the Chinese people is fantastic. I watch a lot and learn. I’m one of the visual learners. [And] what Chinese culture has done with society, and what they knew first, has always amazed me. So it doesn’t surprise me that they do such a fantastic job on that.”
Before returning for the remaining performance, Mr. Schmidt sent his appreciation to Shen Yun and its artists. “Thank you very much for being here,” he said.
Reporting by Laura Gu and Thanh Le
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has four touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit Shen Yun Performing Arts.
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
