Shen Yun Performing Arts successfully closed the curtain on 4 performances at the Pikes Peak Center for the Performing Arts in Colorado Springs, Colorado, from March 15 to 17. Sitting among the audience were several dancers—who told us they marveled and applauded Shen Yun’s artistry.
“It was breathtaking. As a dancer, I loved watching the art, the artistry. Not only is it incredible they can lift their leg up that high, but just the flow of the movement, the precision of their arms. As a dancer, I know how hard that is. And it looks so effortless as well. It was breathtaking, it was beautiful,” said Elizabeth Morales, who is a dancer.
Matthew Hayes, a ballroom dancer, was impressed with Shen Yun’s 3D backdrop.
“The coordination, the musical scores, it was an all-around great performance. My favorite part was the transition from screen to stage. That was a very neat trick I’ve never seen done before,” he said.
“I think the movements were very together. The breath was very together. I love the stories, just how they were telling them with their upper bodies, with their faces and their arms and it’s beautiful,” said Micky Olson, a former dancer.
Shen Yun aims to revive 5,000 years of divinely inspired ancient Chinese culture and values from before communism, showcasing them through classical Chinese dance, music, and stories.
“I think it’s a very important story, one that needs to be told. I think that people need to understand the importance of spiritualism and the importance of preserving freedom, to be able to practice your spirituality or religion,” said Mr. Hayes.
“The roots of China I feel like have been left. In my understanding, my historical reading of it, it’s been torn away from the people. And that’s a shame because over 5,000 years of history is being washed away. And this brings that back,” said Kelelii Deleon, a software engineer.
For Lisa Kaake, an interior designer, seeing the stories from present-day China deeply touched her and brought her to tears.
“There were times I cried. To me, some of the most powerful aspects of it were the beauty of the performers juxtaposed to the violence of communism and what it’s done to China and the powerful impact of that on the Chinese people. That was heartbreaking. And it really brought me to tears,” she said.
Audience members also pointed to other themes depicted on stage.
“I loved the stories of divinity, I loved stories of spirit and of the human spirit coming forward. And I loved the color, the use of color, and the use of movement together. And then of course, the orchestra was wow,” said Ashley Fay, a technical writer.
“These are things we’ve only dreamed about seeing, and here it comes to life,” said Branson Haney, owner of Haney Real Estate.
“I think it was the culmination of just what you’re passionate for and what the dancers are passionate for, bringing back that beauty and that joy of their culture,” said Mr. Olson.
Shen Yun will perform at the Terrace Theater in Long Beach, California, on March 30 and 31.
NTD News, Colorado Springs, Colorado
