Shen Yun Performing Arts, a classical Chinese dance and music company, visited Atlanta for its 12th year earlier this month.
Laurie Dhue, a former Fox News anchor from 2000 to 2008, attended Shen Yun’s matinée performance at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on April 7.
“It was a magnificent performance today,” said Ms.Dhue. “I have been wanting to see Shen Yun for literally the last 10 or 12 years. I used to live in New York. I never got around to seeing it, and so I was really excited to get to see it here in Atlanta today.”
She also worked for MSNBC and Pix 11. She is now a media training consultant with her own company, Laure Dhue Media.
“I have a lot of respect for the effort of Shen Yun, trying to bring back traditional Chinese culture. So that those of us who may not be that familiar with it [the culture] will now be exposed to it and can learn more about these beautiful traditions,” said Ms. Dhue. “I found it very inspiring, breathtaking, beautiful, funny, very touching, and very thought-provoking. It makes me want to learn more about Shen Yun.”
New York-based Shen Yun was founded in 2006, with a mission to revive the divinely inspired culture of China. It has five companies that tour the world simultaneously, reaching thousands of audience members each season.
“You just have that feel of being in China. I think it is wonderfully entertaining. I think it is inspiring,” said Bob Hope, president of PR agency Hope-Beckham Inc. “I love the spiritual part of it, love the cleverness that they presented—very creative. All of that coming together, just very spiritual.”
Shen Yun tells stories from Chinese history and literature, as well as from the modern times. According to its program book, the company creates a new program each year, with new songs sung by operatic soloists newly choreographed dances, and a completely new set of music for its live orchestra.
“It is very colorful, and great music—it all comes together in one place,” said Mr. Hope. “I thought the message was great: we’ve got a world out there with some trouble. We need to do something about it.”
“The important messages really resonated with me. I think one of the central messages is hope—making sure that people have hope and things to look forward to in the world,” said Ms. Dhue. “Also, I think spirituality must be a very important message of the performance today.”
NTD News, Atlanta, Georgia
