COSTA MESA, Calif.—Shen Yun Performing Arts returned to Southern California for the second sold out night at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Jan. 12.
Shen Yun, whose mission is to preserve China’s majestic 5,000-year-old heritage, conveys this rich culture through classic Chinese dance, music and mythology.
In the audience were Greg Brandel, president of Don Brandel Plumbing Inc, which serves the southern California area, and his wife, Natalie Brandel, a Realtor in Orange County.
“It’s very exciting. It’s nice to see other cultures,” said Mr. Brandel enthusiastically.
“Everything is so beautiful and well choreographed, and everybody was so in tune with each other. It’s very nice, a very good program,” he added.
Shen Yun has a unique orchestra that combines a Western orchestra with Chinese instruments.
“The music is very nice, beautiful,” Mr. Brandel said, while his wife affirmed that she thought the orchestra of Western and Eastern instruments was beautiful.
“My mother was born in China, and I wish she were here, because she could comprehend this ... because she knew the history. She was born in Harbin, so it triggers my interest.” added Mrs. Brandel whose family of Russian decent all lived in Harbin.
“Beautiful, impressive, very strong, very entertaining', Mrs. Brandel noted of the dancers.
“It just makes you feel good. The dancers are very talented, obviously, and just how close they work together, which I know is what they’re supposed to be doing, but when you see this many people, this large of a group doing the same thing at the exact same time, it is very impressive,” Mr. Brandel said.
Mrs. Brandel particularly enjoyed the dance Sleeves of Silk, saying: “It’s just the extension of an emotion that you’re getting from the dance—it’s very peaceful. Very low key, almost like you’re meditating as you’re watching this. It really brings you calm, calmness.”
One of the very innovative aspects of Shen Yun is the digital backdrop which creates portals to heavenly realms where divine beings can cross over into the human realm.
“Oh, that’s very interesting, very unique. I like how they fill in and come out and go back, very different. I’ve never seen something like that before,” Mr. Brandel said.
Reporting by Lu Rusong and Masha Savitz
Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company will have three performances at The Music Center in Los Angeles through to Jan. 14.
For more information visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3WTKCEA4tE[/video]
