WORCESTER, Mass.—Robin Milton has danced professionally around the world but experienced classical Chinese dance for the first time on Thursday, at Shen Yun Performing Arts.
Ms. Milton, who danced ballet and tap during her career, attended the Feb. 7 performance at the Hanover Theatre and said Shen Yun’s artistry was exceptional.
“I appreciate the artistry—the cultural background, the costumes, the stage presentation,” she said. “The dancing is superb, it’s very elegant, very classy.”
She said one of the most memorable aspects of the show was how the dancers expressed traditional Chinese culture through a collection of stories.
“The Chinese stories and the artistry, the dancing, the costumes I appreciate,” she said, adding the choreography was outstanding.
“Absolutely beautiful, it’s the first time I’ve seen something like this.”
Ms. Milton decided to get tickets for the show as a birthday present for her son, and said it was a valuable learning experience for both of them.
“It’s great exposure; it’s awesome,” she said. “It’s teaching me a lot also, all of us.”
New York-based Shen Yun is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company. According to the website, Shen Yun’s mission is to revive 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture through classical Chinese art forms.
Investor John Ahern and his wife Andrea were also in attendance for the Feb. 7 performance and were delighted by the experience.
“We love the show,” said Mr. Ahern. “We saw it being advertised and decided that we needed to [come]. The colors and the precision of the performance—great.”
“The dancers are so graceful,” added Mrs. Ahern.
Mr. Ahern was impressed by Shen Yun’s backdrops, which project English translations of the Chinese lyrics sung during vocal performances.
“I think it’s a great idea to have the singers and the information on the background of the message that’s trying to get across,” he said.
According to the Shen Yun website, the lyrics are all original compositions that reflect values and beliefs inherent in traditional Chinese culture.
“Brimming with philosophical reflection about human life and deep layers of meaning, they traverse the boundaries of nation, race, and culture and have been fondly received and appreciated the world over,” says the website.
Reporting by Jing Li, Hua Chang, and Justina Wheale.
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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