TAOYUAN, Taiwan—Chinatrust Commercial Bank Senior Vice President Shen Rende first saw Shen Yun advertisements in New Zealand, and upon returning to Taiwan, he received recommendations from his friends to see the Shen Yun performances.
After attending Shen Yun Performing Arts Touring Company’s second performance at Taoyuan County Performance Center on the evening of March 27, 2013, he exclaimed, “It is amazing that [Shen Yun] even could seamlessly blend Eastern and Western musical instruments. The [Shen Yun Performing Arts Orchestra’s] performance was so natural, and it was also full of traditional Chinese flavor.”
Shen Yun showcases 5,000 years of Chinese civilization in an unforgettable performance of classical Chinese dance and music.
“The coordination of Eastern and Western musical instruments was perfect,” said Mr. Shen. “In the past, I could not image how the Chinese souna could be combined with the Western violin. However, it turned out that their synchronization was very natural and very smooth. There were animated backdrops as well. So, the design was truly perfect. The overall performance was very pleasing.”
Shen Yun features nearly 100 artists, 400 costumes, and the world’s only orchestra with both classical Western and Chinese instruments as permanent members.
Marveling at Shen Yun’s exquisite costumes, Mr. Shen said, “The costumes fully demonstrated the Chinese tradition. The choreography and the arrangement of costumes were really amazing. In the past, it was very rare to see such exquisite classical Chinese dance. I was really impressed.”
“When acting the scenes of the prosperity of Han Dynasty, the dark green colors of the costumes looked like very solemn, while showcasing the scenes of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, the colors of the costumes were very unique,” continued Mr. Shen, impressed with the brilliant colors. “The synchronization of the female performers’ movements and the colors of the costumes were perfect. They looked like very comfortable.”
“The female dancers’ movements were very delicate, and each of their slight, pretty actions also demonstrated local traditional characteristics of the Chinese nation,” he added. “As for the movements of the male dancers—regardless of whether they were somersaults, leaping, or leg splitting, etc.—we could tell they have undergone rigorous training. Their movements were in great unison so that the overall picture was very appealing and pleasing.”
Shen Yun emphasizes ancient Chinese culture, taking the audience through regions, dynasties and legends. The expert athleticism, instrumentation, and vocal performances combined with the color and energy on stage transport the audience members to places and times of the past.
Mr. Shen was especially impressed with the piece The Emperor Journeys to the Moon: “Excellent choreography, coupled with the dancer’s exquisite performance, made us feel like the scene [depicting the drunken Emperor Xuanzong] was very lifelike.”
“This is truly a show that’s worth appreciating,” said Mr. Shen with the wish that more and more people will go to see Shen Yun. “I hope performances like this can be further promoted, as we Chinese people should know more about our traditions and should not forget our roots.”
“For thousands of years, Chinese artists cultivated virtue, believing that to create true art worthy of the heavens, there must first be inner purity,” states the Shen Yun website. “Today, Shen Yun’s artists follow this noble tradition. The result is a performance of consummate beauty, purity, and goodness. It is a show that nourishes the soul.”
In reference to the program’s mention of the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance, Mr. Shen said, “As far as I am concerned, the realm with truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance is the best one.”
Read the original Chinese article.
Reporting by Dai Deman and Bill Xu
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
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