SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun’s Music Makes You Feel Very Warm Inside, Says Company Owner

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Shen Yun’s Music Makes You Feel Very Warm Inside, Says Company Owner
Jeff Kennedy and his children enjoyed Shen Yun's evening performance at the Von Braun Center Concert Hall on Feb. 6, 2024. Sally Sun/The Epoch Times

HUNTSVILLE, Ala.—Jeff Kennedy, the CEO and owner of Canadian Sunstruck Solutions, and his family have made it a tradition to attend Shen Yun Performing Arts every year the company returns.

On the evening of Feb. 6, the family watched Shen Yun for the third time at the Von Braun Center Concert Hall. They thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

“I love the diversity of the cultures and seeing how the [performers] express what they’re so passionate about in dance and music,” Mr. Kennedy stated.

“We were complimenting the orchestra and I was reading [up about] some of the talents—it’s just so incredible to see it all come together on one stage.”
Shen Yun Performing Arts is the world’s top classical Chinese dance and music company. Presenting a brand-new set of programs each year, the company has been delighting audiences around the world since 2006.

Its performance is comprised of a series of short pieces that take its audience on a ride through the dynasties and across the vast regions of China.

Using classical Chinese, folk, and ethnic dances, as well as solo musical performances, Shen Yun recounts tales from ancient times to the modern day.
Mr. Kennedy especially enjoyed Shen Yun’s music, stating that it was beautiful and made him feel “very warm inside.”

“It’s very touching to hear the music and it’s so exciting to hear the beats and tones. [Both my daughters] are in bands so they’re really enjoying that—it’s good to see,” he expressed.

“To see the excitement of the dancers—you can just tell how trained they are with the music. It’s really special.”

Using classical Western orchestration as the foundation, Shen Yun’s original compositions highlight traditional Chinese instruments such as the two-stringed erhu and the pipa—an ancient Chinese lute. Bringing to its audience the best of both worlds.

According to the company’s website, Shen Yun’s orchestra is the first in the world to permanently combine ancient Chinese and Western instruments.

Referring to the artists’ mission to bring back traditional Chinese culture that had been lost and destroyed since the communist takeover in 1949, Mr. Kennedy said Shen Yun performers have put in “amazing efforts.”

“I can’t imagine the hours of training that goes in and the devotion that they have. I really appreciate the talent and devotion,” he said, adding that he felt a spiritual connection to the divine elements portrayed within the show.

“It’s interesting to see the spiritual beliefs that they have and the spiritual beliefs that we have. It’s very similar,” he stated. “I think faith is very important. It directs your life from within.”

Mr. Kennedy’s daughter Eva Gray chimed in that she, too, thought the whole program was very educational and interesting. She learned a lot about traditional Chinese culture through the show.

“With the dancers, I just want to ask how they did it and how many years they’ve put in. I find all that they do so amazing,” she said.

For his part, if given a chance to speak with Shen Yun performers, Mr. Kennedy said he would like to tell them to go after their passion with all the spirit that they have for music and dance.

“I commend them on their passion and the hours of time that they’ve obviously put in,“ he said. ”I found that commendable.”

Reporting by Sally Sun and Jennifer Tseng.
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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