MINNEAPOLIS—Principal HR business partner James Eldien said Shen Yun Performing Arts was a “phenomenal experience” after attending the company’s matinee at the Orpheum Theatre on May 5.
“It’s beautifully done. The dancers were phenomenal. The
backdrop and the animations, and how they incorporated it into the dance, was just stunning,” he exclaimed.
It was a journey for the soul. “I smiled the entire time. It just brought such happiness and peace while watching it.”
In 2006, the New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts was established by a group of leading Chinese artists
seeking to revive China’s 5,000 years of traditional culture to its pre-communist glory.
The
company has since met with worldwide praise from theatergoers and critics alike. Currently wrapping up its 2024 touring season, the artists have performed in over 200 cities around the world.
Mr. Eldien praised Shen Yun’s live orchestra and appreciated the
bilingual hosts who explained the story behind each dance before the curtain opened. This made the storylines “very easy to follow.”
He also loved Shen Yun’s use of classical Chinese instruments within the Western orchestra and noted the
spiritual essence woven throughout the performance.
“The
music was stunning and beautiful all on its own, but seeing it with dance just enhances the music,” he expressed.
“The music has a very spiritual component. It draws you in and [makes] you think about something bigger than just yourself. The dance did that as well.”
Seamlessly blending the grandeur of a Western orchestra with the ethereal beauty of Chinese melodies and ancient folk instruments,
Shen Yun musicians produce a profound emotional range that captures the depth of the human experience.
“It was a unique, awesome experience. You walk away feeling refreshed—renewed, and feeling like you could dance leaving the theatre,” Mr. Eldien stated.
“The essence of the show is about humanity. It’s about people’s experience. It’s about trials and tribulations and how we can get through all of it and come out on a brighter, happier side.”
Reporting by Sherry Dong and Jennifer Tseng.