PASADENA, Calif.—It was a lovely spring evening in Pasadena. The kind of evening that invites you to do something special. Rachel Bruno and her friend Colleen found that something special on April 28, opening night of Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company, presenting classical Chinese dance and music.
Ms. Bruno works as an independent writer, specializing in commercials, and Colleen is a physician. They both traveled from Santa Monica to enjoy the splendor of ancient Chinese culture and history, and relive the wonder and beauty of myths, legends and folkloric dance.
Ms. Bruno felt that she had learned a lot about Chinese culture through the performance. “I’ve never seen dance like this before, so for me that was really an eye opener, to see the different kinds of movements that were indicative of a cultural movement.”
“The music, oh, it was gorgeous. I loved hearing the blend of Eastern and Western instruments,” she said. Shen Yun’s orchestra is unique in that in blends classical Western and traditional Chinese instruments to produce a beautiful harmony.
The dancers and singers received accolades from Ms. Bruno too: “[The dancers are] so precise, graceful, strong, and courageous.” And the singers: “They were so surprising. It was really unusual to hear such strong voices.”
The lyrics she said “were lovely and very thoughtful.”
“I loved it. It was amazing!”
Her friend Colleen particularly enjoyed the dance Plum Blossom, but thought that each of the performances were wonderful.
Reporting by Lu Rusong and Cheryl Casati.
Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company will perform in Los Angeles at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, April 28-30, and the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Orange County, May 6-8. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
Ms. Bruno works as an independent writer, specializing in commercials, and Colleen is a physician. They both traveled from Santa Monica to enjoy the splendor of ancient Chinese culture and history, and relive the wonder and beauty of myths, legends and folkloric dance.
Ms. Bruno felt that she had learned a lot about Chinese culture through the performance. “I’ve never seen dance like this before, so for me that was really an eye opener, to see the different kinds of movements that were indicative of a cultural movement.”
“The music, oh, it was gorgeous. I loved hearing the blend of Eastern and Western instruments,” she said. Shen Yun’s orchestra is unique in that in blends classical Western and traditional Chinese instruments to produce a beautiful harmony.
The dancers and singers received accolades from Ms. Bruno too: “[The dancers are] so precise, graceful, strong, and courageous.” And the singers: “They were so surprising. It was really unusual to hear such strong voices.”
The lyrics she said “were lovely and very thoughtful.”
“I loved it. It was amazing!”
Her friend Colleen particularly enjoyed the dance Plum Blossom, but thought that each of the performances were wonderful.
Reporting by Lu Rusong and Cheryl Casati.
Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company will perform in Los Angeles at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, April 28-30, and the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Orange County, May 6-8. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
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