Shen Yun an Expression of Myriad Emotions, Says COO
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—Brad and Melinda Williams enjoyed Shen Yun Performing Arts last year and returned for the new production this year at the BJCC Concert Hall.
“That was fantastic,” said Mr. Williams, chief operating officer of a bank.
“It was completely different last year,” added Mrs. Williams after the couple had seen the evening performance on April 22.
New York-based Shen Yun is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance company and has, since its inception in 2006, put on an all-new production each season. Shen Yun’s mission is to revive 5,000 years of Chinese civilization.
“It transported you to another world,” said Mrs. Williams.
Mr. Williams thought the art incredibly expressive.
“I love the music. I love the dance, the expression. It just feels, depending on the scene, it was joyful or sad. It was a nice experience from all sorts of emotions,“ he said. ”You can see through the dance the joy, or the hurt, or the sad, all sorts of emotion.”
Mrs. Williams said the expression was beautiful.
“It’s absolutely gorgeous. It’s inspirational, too. And it also creates an awareness of a different culture and what’s going on in China, too. I think that’s important,” she said.
‘From Their Heart’
Also in the audience were Greg and Melissa Werner, who were seeing Shen Yun for the first time after having heard about it year after year.
“It’s beautiful, just the artistry, and it seems like the art comes from within,” said Mr. Werner, chief development officer in the healthcare field. “Inner beauty. Comes from their heart, their soul.”
“I can see that there’s a lot of passion, and I think that they’ve been, it seems like they’ve been rehearsing, practicing for years,” Mr. Werner said. “I’ve seen a few tenors and just the power of his voice and the passion in what he’s singing. You could really feel it in his voice.”
George Tobia, president of a restaurant supply company, felt that expressivity and passion conveyed a message that uplifted him.
“I think the whole message is great, and I wish we could all get back there. It’s beautiful. That’s what the world’s all about,“ he said. ”Love. Freedom. Being able to be free and to choose your own happiness.”
“Dazzling, beautiful story, wonderful dancers, fantastic orchestra. Just beautiful. The lighting, the costumes, it’s first class. Enjoying every bit of it and the story that’s being told.”