SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Costume Designer Marvels at How Shen Yun Dancers Move in Costume

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Costume Designer Marvels at How Shen Yun Dancers Move in Costume
The Pinson family (L-R) Zoe, Mary, and David attended Shen Yun Performing Arts at the George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City, Utah, on March 23, 2023. Nancy Ma/The Epoch Times

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah—The George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Theater celebrated a gala event when Shen Yun Performing Arts arrived on March 23. Mary and David Pinson and their daughter Erin enjoyed the show. Mr. Pinson, a retired deputy sheriff, said: “I think it’s very beautiful, very energetic, tells a lot. Very beautiful to watch.”

Mrs. Pinson, a costume designer, appreciated the beauty of traditional Chinese culture presented. “I love the depiction of the beauty of the land, and the people, and the culture. I love learning about other cultures, and this is just fascinating. Their movement in their dance is just beautiful and stunning. It’s just absolutely lovely,” she said.
With her expert eye on the costumes, she said: “They’re beautiful. I am watching to see how they were put together. I’m fascinated because the [dancers] are moving so much, and the flow of that, and how the costumes are staying put and staying on them. They’re exquisite. They’re beautiful. It’s just amazing to me.”

The colors of the costumes also amazed her. “The colors are beautiful. The palette is extraordinary. It highlights the [dancers]. You can tell who the main characters are in the story that’s being portrayed. It’s mesmerizing.”

Mrs. Pinson could also see how everything in the production worked together. “I think that it looks very cohesive. The backdrop complements the dancers, and the dancers complement the background. It’s fabulously put together. It’s beautiful.”

The stories told through dance intrigued Ms. Pinson, a writer and journalist on Substack. “I love it. I’m a storyteller, so I love the whole, just the dynamic of the story,” she said. “There’s complexity to it, but also simplicity that just captures you and draws you in. And it’s stunning from the moment it starts going through the dance. You don’t even need words to know that there’s a story here. And it’s phenomenal. I’m just in awe. I love it.

“Storytelling has been my life,” she said. “Since I was a little girl, I’ve been writing and storytelling. I love it. I love painting a story of words. So this, to me, is the quintessential piece of storytelling. It’s phenomenal.”

Through classical Chinese dance and music, Shen Yun is sharing with the world the beauty of China’s authentic 5,000 years of history. Since its founding in 2006, the company has received worldwide accolades for its mission to revive traditional Chinese culture.

Mrs. Pinson noted the spiritual insights of performers presented during the performance. “I am amazed at how the stories and the depiction of a creator; every culture has that element. Every culture has good versus evil. Every culture has the good guys always winning,” she said.

“There are good people out there who want to do good and to bring joy to everyone, which crosses every cultural barrier. We’re all part of a bigger plan. I love that we can bring cultures together that way,” Mrs. Pinson said.

With his background in law enforcement, Mr. Pinson commented on the policemen persecuting the young family that wanted to grow and develop, and be more spiritual, “Part of it is that everybody has their right to worship, however they feel, but when other people try to force something or take something away from them, then that wouldn’t be good,” he said.
Benjamin Bohman, his wife, and Mr. and Mrs. Eldon Bohman attend Shen Yun Performing Arts at the George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City, Utah, on March 23, 2024. (Nancy Ma/The Epoch Times)
Benjamin Bohman, his wife, and Mr. and Mrs. Eldon Bohman attend Shen Yun Performing Arts at the George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City, Utah, on March 23, 2024. Nancy Ma/The Epoch Times

Shen Yun Is Something Everyone Should See

Benjamin and Eldon Bohman attended Shen Yun Performing Arts with their wives and enjoyed the dances of traditional Chinese culture. Mr. Eldon Bohman, who sells steel slag aggregate and farm supplies, said, “I thought it was very beautiful. I’m not sure if I followed the political part of it, but it’s really beautiful.”
Mr. Benjamin Bohman, the owner of an AI company, appreciated the 3D animated backdrop. “I was actually pretty impressed with how vibrant the screen is and the size of it,” he said.

“I'd be interested in the technology they used with it. I like also how they transition, jumping in and then flying out. So I thought the technology was pretty cool. As far as the picture of it, the quality is great. The quality is perfect,” he said.

The family group sat near the orchestra to enjoy Shen Yun’s great sound. “The orchestra is great. It’s good to have the live orchestra. Having a live orchestra with live music in a live performance, it [creates the right] ambiance,” Mr. Bohman said.

He experienced different feelings during the performance. “I think different [dances] give different emotions. I think the one where it talks about communism coming in, I'd say to people, it still gives you a very sad emotion. And then with others, it’s a very optimistic, it’s a very comforting emotion. So throughout it, you’re pretty much on a rollercoaster of good and bad, and sad and excited emotions,” he said.

Mr. Benjamin Bohman took in some spiritual insights about traditional Chinese culture. “I think somewhat it is [spiritual] at a very high level. You can see through the spirit of the dance and the idea of the way that they interpret heaven,” he said.

He appreciated the opportunity to see and appreciate another culture in Shen Yun and the similarities with other cultures. “Just shared cultures. I think it would be great to be just shared cultures; something that like everyone should be able to see. It’s unfortunate that that’s not allowed in China right now. I think that’s a beautiful thing for all of us to share,” he said.
With shows scheduled in over 200 cities and across five continents, the 2024 touring season is shaping up to be the artists’ busiest yet.

For Mr. Bohman, Shen Yun was “vibrant and beautiful.” He complimented the performers on the beautiful performance. “They’re amazing. Congrats on hard work, because this doesn’t come easy to be able to dance and to be able to move like that. Even the artists who are performing in the orchestra, it doesn’t come from a year or two years, it’s decades and decades of hard work, so just amazing. Congrats.”

Reporting by Nancy Ma and Yvonne Marcotte.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.
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