SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun Concludes 4 Sold-Out Performances in Kamakura

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Shen Yun Concludes 4 Sold-Out Performances in Kamakura
Aoki Akihiko at the Shen Yun Performing Arts performance at Kamakura Performing Arts Center, in Japan, on Feb. 2, 2024. Niu Bin/The Epoch Times

KAMAKURA, Japan—This season so far, Shen Yun Performing Arts has seen full houses in venues all across Japan. Kamakura was no different.

“The Shen Yun female dancers, especially during the long-sleeve dance, were incredibly beautiful, truly reaching the pinnacle of beauty,” said Akihiko Aoki, executive director of the Fujisawa City Business Association.

Shen Yun is based in New York and its artists are trained in classical Chinese dance, one of the most expressive and athletic dance systems in the world.

“The flips and jumps in the male classical dance were truly fantastic!” he said. “They left a deep impression on me.”

Shen Yun’s music was composed by resident composers who work closely with Shen Yun’s choreographers. Each piece is tailored to fit its corresponding dance to give the audience the best experience.

“Shen Yun’s music was very pleasant, providing a refreshing experience,” said Mr. Aoki. “The music harmonized perfectly with the pace of the story and the dance movements, complementing each other excellently.”

According to Shen Yun’s website, its singers “are distinguished by the unparalleled ability to sing Chinese text using traditional bel canto technique.”

Ms. Aoki was particularly impressed by the tenor.

“The tenor’s singing was delightful, and his voice was resonant. I had some understanding of the lyrics, and combined with the impactful singing, it touched my soul.”

Yoshito Kawakami at the Shen Yun Performing Arts performance at Kamakura Performing Arts Center on Feb. 2, 2024. (Zhang Ying/The Epoch Times)
Yoshito Kawakami at the Shen Yun Performing Arts performance at Kamakura Performing Arts Center on Feb. 2, 2024. Zhang Ying/The Epoch Times

Yoshito Kawakami, a music producer, has been a fan of Shen Yun since 2018. This season is his first time back since the pandemic.

“Despite the two years without being able to attend due to the pandemic, this time seeing Shen Yun again made me feel great,” said Mr. Kawakami.

Shen Yun’s artists are on the road for nearly half the year. The other half is spent perfecting the new production for the next season.

“Whether it was male or female performers, the movements were very powerful. The coordination of the dancers, whether with bouquets or fan-like props, was impressive and formed a cohesive whole,” said Mr. Kawakami.

Something that sets Shen Yun apart from other productions is its patented digital backdrop. When the storyline takes the audience to a different setting, the backdrop makes it happen in the blink of an eye.

“It was not just the show itself but also the production of the dynamic backdrop and its seamless connection with the stage that made Shen Yun really beautiful,” said Mr. Kawakami.

Shen Yun also uses its art to raise awareness about what is happening in present-day China, where practitioners of the spiritual discipline Falun Gong are being persecuted for their faith. In addition to arbitrary detention, forced labor, and torture, The Chinese Communist Party has further caused an international uproar with its harvesting of the organs of live Falun Gong practitioners for profit.

“Some people may think that these things are impossible in reality, but their perspective changes when they obtain more information from the performance,” said Mr. Kawakami.

He shared his belief that tradition is important for society.

“Especially now, in Japan, traditions and customs have become blurred, and humanity and warmth are decreasing. So, feeling these things here is really good,” he said.

Shen Yun’s New York Company will perform in three more cities in Japan before heading to Australia and Taiwan.

Reporting by Niu Bin, Zhang Ying, and Maria Han.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.