LOS ANGELES—Ms. Mackey, a middle school student, wearing a beautiful hand-me-down pink Chinese dress that her mother had bought for her, came to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the Music Center in downtown Los Angeles on Feb. 7 with her mother and sister. Mrs. Mackey is a scientist in the ecology field.
All three were looking forward to seeing the New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts, a show renowned worldwide for its flawless Chinese dance, brilliant traditional costumes, and story-based dance dramas depicting the spirit and essence of China’s age-old culture.
Ms. Mackey spoke about what she had seen. “The show was very beautiful. The colors and the traditional Chinese elements, and I liked the human rights content. I also liked how they integrated Mongolia and Tibet,” she said, referring to the folk dances depicting China’s various eras and ethnicities.
Ms. Mackey enjoyed the dancing, the beauty, and the discipline of the dancers.
She particular enjoyed the dance the Flowing Silk in which, according to the program, silken sleeves flow softly through the air, much like drifting ribbons in the breeze. A lighthearted melody complements young maiden’s soft smiles and spins. Dances such as this with what Chinese call “water sleeves” are a favorite in classical Chinese dance. The sleeves’ patterns conjure an image of rippling water.
“The females, I would say they were disciplined, and the same for the males—very precise. The females were very thin, and all very beautiful,” she said. “No matter what they did with their hair or what costumes they wore, they were all very beautiful. And the guys were very precise in their movements.”
Speaking of the music presented by the Shen Yun Orchestra that combines Eastern and Western instruments, and a backdrop that enhances the show with its display of Chinese landscapes and majestic scenes, she said, “It was all so extraordinary ... I just loved the entire show.”
China and East Asia were part of her class studies recently, so she appreciated the educational value of the show, in particular the story-based dances of ancient heroic legends. “I thought it helped further my knowledge,” she said.
Ms. Mackey wants others to see the show and said, “I would definitely tell people to watch the show because it’s a really good show. I liked the color and the traditional Chinese aspects. ... and I’d like to come back again.”
Ms. Mackey’s mother, Mrs. Mackey agreed with her daughter’s comments about the show.
“We really enjoyed the traditional cultural Chinese dancing mixed with a very strong human rights message,” said Mrs. Mackey.
The costumes with the kaleidoscope of colors caught Mrs. Mackey’s attention. “I love the costumes, we love the colors and we love the glitter,” she said.
She also appreciated the music which she said was wonderful.
“I like the integration of the modern pieces, the instruments with the traditional Chinese pieces. We enjoyed the erhu, the traditional Chinese two string instrument sounded very, very lovely,“ she said. ”We enjoyed the entire piece.”
She added, “I would definitely recommend the show to friends.”
With reporting by NTDTV.
Shen Yun will perform in Los Angeles at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion of the Music Center through Sunday, Feb. 14.
For more information, please visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
All three were looking forward to seeing the New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts, a show renowned worldwide for its flawless Chinese dance, brilliant traditional costumes, and story-based dance dramas depicting the spirit and essence of China’s age-old culture.
Ms. Mackey spoke about what she had seen. “The show was very beautiful. The colors and the traditional Chinese elements, and I liked the human rights content. I also liked how they integrated Mongolia and Tibet,” she said, referring to the folk dances depicting China’s various eras and ethnicities.
Ms. Mackey enjoyed the dancing, the beauty, and the discipline of the dancers.
She particular enjoyed the dance the Flowing Silk in which, according to the program, silken sleeves flow softly through the air, much like drifting ribbons in the breeze. A lighthearted melody complements young maiden’s soft smiles and spins. Dances such as this with what Chinese call “water sleeves” are a favorite in classical Chinese dance. The sleeves’ patterns conjure an image of rippling water.
“The females, I would say they were disciplined, and the same for the males—very precise. The females were very thin, and all very beautiful,” she said. “No matter what they did with their hair or what costumes they wore, they were all very beautiful. And the guys were very precise in their movements.”
Speaking of the music presented by the Shen Yun Orchestra that combines Eastern and Western instruments, and a backdrop that enhances the show with its display of Chinese landscapes and majestic scenes, she said, “It was all so extraordinary ... I just loved the entire show.”
China and East Asia were part of her class studies recently, so she appreciated the educational value of the show, in particular the story-based dances of ancient heroic legends. “I thought it helped further my knowledge,” she said.
Ms. Mackey wants others to see the show and said, “I would definitely tell people to watch the show because it’s a really good show. I liked the color and the traditional Chinese aspects. ... and I’d like to come back again.”
Ms. Mackey’s mother, Mrs. Mackey agreed with her daughter’s comments about the show.
“We really enjoyed the traditional cultural Chinese dancing mixed with a very strong human rights message,” said Mrs. Mackey.
The costumes with the kaleidoscope of colors caught Mrs. Mackey’s attention. “I love the costumes, we love the colors and we love the glitter,” she said.
She also appreciated the music which she said was wonderful.
“I like the integration of the modern pieces, the instruments with the traditional Chinese pieces. We enjoyed the erhu, the traditional Chinese two string instrument sounded very, very lovely,“ she said. ”We enjoyed the entire piece.”
She added, “I would definitely recommend the show to friends.”
With reporting by NTDTV.
Shen Yun will perform in Los Angeles at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion of the Music Center through Sunday, Feb. 14.
For more information, please visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
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