GREENVILLE, S.C.—Tom Vickers and his wife, Stephanie, work in finance, and she also has a background in classical music. The two saw Shen Yun Performing Arts Touring Company at the Peace Center on March 1. Mrs. Vickers said, “We keep talking about how great the orchestra is.”
She is a CPA who formerly played the violin, so she is “always tuned into the strings side of it,” she said. She also noted the “drums and definitely the drums, the orchestra is awesome.” Mr. Vickers, a finance manager, said the wind instruments, including the Western flutes, and the Chinese dizi and suona were very good.
Mr. Vickers said he enjoyed the bel canto style vocal solos as much as the orchestra. “The soprano and the tenor were very good as well, they have strong voices. I like that.”
Mrs. Vickers said: “The choreography in general is outstanding, and I guess the physical ability of the people, that you don’t appreciate, unless you really realize what they’re doing; because they’re so graceful, you don’t know that what they’re doing is taking such physical strength.” Her husband said the dancers made it appear effortless.
Mrs. Vickers said the show was “powerful, colorful and artistic.”
“Oh, it’s outstanding,” said Mr. Vickers.
‘Absolutely breathtaking’
A group of sisters and other family members came to see the New York-based company for the first time, and were both touched and pleased by what they experienced.
Samantha Rivera, who works in retail, said: “I thought the show was absolutely breathtaking. I felt moved in a couple of dances and I would recommend it to anybody, anyone!” She said, “The choreography! They glided across the floor, they seemed like celestial beings and I believed it while I was watching it. They were amazing. It was stunning!”
Veavaga Rivera, a culinary arts student, said: “I thought it was excellent. I thought it was brilliant. They were so graceful.” She said Shen Yun is “definitely a return show.” She brought her aunt. “We both loved it,” she said.
Sarai Rivera, a nursing student, said: “The show was just amazing-the colors, the costumes, the dances!” She especially liked Sleeves of Silk, which was “so beautiful,” she said. “Classical Chinese dance uses what are known as ”water sleeves“ for some of its loveliest expressions,” according to the program.
“I was moved on The Choice; I started crying. It was very moving, the emotion behind it and the fact that happens … I can’t even talk about it now,“ she said as she became touched again while recalling the dance. ”It was moving,” she said.
According to the program book, the dance tells the story of two friends who part ways after college. Police recruit the young man. The young lady begins to practice Falun Dafa, following the principles of Truth Compassion and Tolerance. The practice becomes outlawed in China. “When followers protest on Tiananmen Square, they are brutally beaten by police.” The young man faces a choice.
“I thought it was awesome. It just opens your eyes to their belief system. It was pretty cool,” Miss Rivera said.
Reporting by SOH radio network, Kelly Ni and Mary Silver.
Shen Yun Performing Arts, based in New York, tours the world on a mission to revive traditional Chinese culture. Shen Yun Performing Arts Touring Company will perform three shows in Tampa, Florida, at The David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts on March 3-4.
For more information visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
