GWANGJU, South Korea—Shen Yun Performing Arts Touring Company presented its performance at the Gwangju Culture & Art Center on the afternoon of April 11. After watching the performance, Mr. Jung Chang Jae, former curator of Gwangju Culture Museum of Art in Gwangju, South Jeolla Province, expressed that he was delighted with its demonstration of traditional Chinese culture, and that all the performers were really great.
He added that Shen Yun’s artistic level was superior to other performing arts companies in various aspects, and that it was wonderful to see traditional Chinese culture through the arts. In addition, the overall performance of the show is exceptionally good.
Mr. Jung explained, “If you want me to pick the programs that impressed me most, I would say they were Han Emperor Air and An Early Spring.” In Han Emperor Air, against the backdrop of an imperial court, the men of the Han Dynasty parade in dignified splendor. In An Early Spring the dancers’ twirling handkerchiefs evoke the annual change of seasons in this vibrant northeastern folk dance.
“Though I am Christian, I can understand the teaching that good begets good, and evil leads to evil, in the last piece Divine Mercy. ... Throughout the Shen Yun show, I also noticed the principles of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and honesty. Though these principles were not mentioned explicitly, we could notice them when appreciating the programs.”
Finally, he said with a deep sigh, “Through Shen Yun performances, we can gain more insight into traditional Chinese arts. But unfortunately, these traditions can no longer be found in modern China, as this society has become so wicked. Fortunately, Shen Yun is reviving the authentic Chinese traditional culture.”
Read the original Chinese article.
Reporting by Hong May 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.
