KANSAS CITY, Mo.—The Kansas City Music Hall welcomed a special performance of Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company on Jan. 31.
Opened in 1936, the Music Hall is an elegant Art Deco venue which, in that year, the Architectural Record called “one of the 10 best buildings of the world”.
Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company performed a special one night only production at the Kansas City Music Hall as they continue on their 2012 global tour.
Shen Yun’s mission to restore to the world the divinely bestowed culture of 5,000 years of Chinese history and high values were vividly portrayed tonight.
Dr. Jody Krukowski, a naturopath, accompanied by her friend Mr. James Pippenger, agreed that Shen Yun was visually entertaining.
Trained in ballet, Dr. Krukowski appreciated the artistry of all the vignettes in Shen Yun, pointing out that Snowflakes Welcoming Spring had a special appeal for her. It is a northeastern folk dance where dancers take small, quick steps in a farewell before the snow melts as they skillfully spin and twirl sequined handkerchiefs
Shen Yun performances include a variety of classical Chinese dance as well as many ethnic dances.
“I saw so many different kinds of Chinese dance,” Dr. Krukowski said, “so many different kinds of dance in there ... wonderful!”
The website offers rich insight into the brilliant costumes which bring to life the Tang Dynasty’s “Raiment of Rainbows and Feathers”, the imperial dragon robes , the phoenix coronets and cloud capes in addition to the multitude of ethnic clothing from China’s ancient civilization.
The costumes drew Dr. Krukoski’s eye, “The color was amazing, that’s a lot different than what I am used to. Definitely love it!”
Mr. Pippenger said, “This is the first time I have been to something like this, so it was nice. I liked that there’s a lot to look at.” He said he would tell his friends “it is a cultural experience ... definitely visually entertaining!”
Reporting by Catherine Wen and Cheryl Casati.
Shen Yun Performing Arts, based in New York, tours the world on a mission to revive traditional Chinese culture.
For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
