A family of 11 attended Shen Yun Performing Arts’ opening night on March 20 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
“It exceeded my expectations,” said Robbie Jackson, CIO at Younique. “I didn’t really know what to expect. It was really powerful, it was moving. Visually, it was just stunning. The creativity, the athleticism of the dancers, their balance.”
He attended with his son and daughter-in-law.
“Everything about it was inspiring,” said Brett Jackson, senior product manager at Allio. “From the dedication of the musicians and the dancers to the composition. And the fact that it’s a new production every year. That’s kind of crazy to me. That’s a lot of work. Everything from the technology of the background with the cool interaction of people going in and out of the floor, to the complexity of the music, which was really incredible as well. There were so many technically challenging pieces.”
“I really, really enjoyed the harp parts. They’re very prominent and just very magical sounding,” said Bridget Jackson, a harpist. “The blend and the textures and the colors of the music were really, really beautiful. So I definitely appreciated it as a musician.
Through dance and music, Shen Yun’s mission is to revive 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture.
“I loved the blend of the traditional Chinese and then also the Western orchestra together. It was so moving, especially on the erhu solo. It brought me to tears, it was so beautiful. I never heard a solo with that instrument … so I had no idea all the capabilities that it had,” said Ms. Jackson.
“I love how the choreography is just so spot on,” said David Pack, a college professor. “It’s hard to be able to do that with so many people. And to have such a wonderfully large cast to be so talented and be able to tour around the world. It’s fantastic.”
Much of China’s ancient culture is divinely inspired, and Shen Yun presents aspects of that spirituality in its pieces.
“The message that we were all divine before we came here. And that our creator came here to help us so that we can return back to be with him and to return to inherit that divine nature that we all possess and have,” said Robbie Jackson. “It was just a really powerful and spiritual and touching message.”
“To be able to see culture and art of a different ethnicity, region of the world, I think the more we are exposed to different thoughts, different cultures, it really enlarges our scope of thought and understanding. And hopefully tolerance and acceptance of those that are different from us,” said Mr. Pack.
“It felt really great … the feeling of watching the performance and leaving,” said Brett Jackson. “Everybody was very positive and uplifted, and it was overall a really brightening experience that I think anyone would appreciate.”
NTD News, Salt Lake City, Utah
