Five thousand years of Chinese civilization, culture, and history were brought to life at the Long Center Theater in Austin, Texas, this week. Shen Yun Performing Arts hopes to show people what authentic Chinese culture looked like before communism.
Camille Pond, a former professional dancer in ballet, jazz, and tap said “the musical performances, the singers, just so much inspiration, learning more about China and the compassion and beautiful culture they have, was incredible.”
“Phenomenal. Beats anything I saw on Broadway,” said Bonnie Glasgow, a bank collections officer.
Chris Edwards, grant manager for the Texas government, said: “It’s fantastic. The music, the choreography, the dancing, the cinematic show behind the scenes are fantastic as well. The way you meld them is great, and I think overall, what it really shows is what was lost when the communists took over China. This cultural tradition is absolutely phenomenal, and the way it’s presented here is just fantastic and shouldn’t be missed by anybody.”
Shen Yun’s orchestra is the first in the world to blend both Eastern and Western instruments together, creating a melody that’s never been heard before.
Randee Wagstaff, an environmental, health, and safety director, said: “I think as far as the performance goes, visually, it’s stunning, and the performance is impeccable, not just of the dancers but of the orchestra. They were brilliant.”
Jason Montier is a director of the fine arts at Brentwood Christian School, and has 20 years of experience in teaching band and orchestra. He said: “I’ve been listening to the orchestra, and it’s hypnotizing. I can hear all the parts. It’s flawless. You forget that there is a live orchestra down there until you look. It’s absolutely phenomenal. Phenomenal.”
Shen Yun portrays ancient values and culture through classical Chinese dance and music, hoping to inspire traditional values like compassion and tolerance in the audience.
“Just an appreciation for the culture. An appreciation for really understanding what classic Chinese dance looks like and what it’s made up of,” said Leeann King, account manager at Apex Systems.
After watching Shen Yun, Wagstaff mentioned how the show displayed the importance of the creator and salvation for others.
“For me, it’s knowing that there are other cultures in this world that understand that there is a creator and that there is salvation. And that salvation comes from compassion and forbearance and all the various things we can do to show one another that we tolerate and accept each other regardless of who they are.”
Shen Yun will be touring Texas until the end of February so make sure to check our website for more information.
