Over the weekend, New York’s Shen Yun Performing Arts dazzled audiences in Minneapolis with four performances of traditional Chinese culture at the Minneapolis Orpheum Theatre, attended by a full house.
“I was just blown away in the best way possible,” said Eva Andersen, a four-time Emmy-winning reporter.
Shen Yun’s story-based dance, which brought 5,000 years of Chinese civilization to life, mesmerized audiences.
Ms. Andersen said: “I think it accomplishes the goal of art so well, and that it is educational, transformational, moving; it is humorous and poignant. It taught me a lot of things that I didn’t know. And there’s an urgency to it as well.”
Sheri Lumley, executive director at Minnesota Hearing Healthcare Providers, came to see Shen Yun with her husband and daughter. She said: “The artistry of the dance was incredible. What really stood out to me were the costumes and the water dance, the flowing of the costumes, and just how the flowing really, oh my goodness, it really … made me want to go out and dance.”
Audience members enjoyed Shen Yun’s music played by the orchestra, which combines classical Chinese and Western instruments, as well as the two-stringed Chinese erhu soloist.
Ms. Lumley said: “The music is what really spoke to me. The traditional Chinese instrument was so beautiful. I felt the energy just flow throughout when I heard that.”
Leslie Connell-Torres, a senior interior designer with Henricksen, said: “The music was incredible. I’m glad that they were able to point out each instrument because to the untrained person, we can’t hear these things, and then it kind of comes to life.”
Audience members found traditional Chinese culture’s spirituality moving and beautiful.
Gary Bjorge, retired military history professor with the U.S. Army Command & General Staff College, has seen Shen Yun three times. He said, “All the stories are good, but because they all have moral content—is that good prevails over bad—and so that’s what we need more of, that goodness over evil.”
Ms. Connell-Torres said, “I appreciate the focus on the religious practice that is banned [in China] and that people have been persecuted for practicing that spiritual belief. And it was a reminder that these things are still happening; that was very moving.”
Kristen D’Arpa, founder of the Kingdom Culture School of Ministry, came to see Shen Yun for the second time. She said, “I love seeing heaven displayed in the people and just all the culture and just the beauty, and I love that … it’s divine beings, putting display the beauty of the Creator on the earth.”
Ms. D’Arpa urged people to see the show. “You have to see this show. It’s absolutely incredible. And it’s like it helps our hearts to sing and it helps our hearts to dance and to come alive. And again, it helps connect us with the Creator who made and knows us, and we’re getting to participate in that. So you need to see it, and you’re going to come more alive when you do.”
NTD News, Minneapolis, Minnesota
