LAS VEGAS—Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company displayed the grandeur of China’s 5,000 years of culture at Reynolds Hall in the Smith Center on Saturday, March 16, to the delight of those in attendance.
Sonia Thuna, the former president of a pharmaceutical company, and her husband, Martin, who serves as chairman at the same company were in the theater.
Both enjoyed the show very much.
“It’s great. Unbelievable,” said Mrs. Thuna.
Mr. Thuna said that because his company does business in China, he has always had an interest in the culture.“Then when I see this I appreciate it even more. It’s very nice.”
Shen Yun has a mission to revive China’s long and splendid culture, which has been damaged over the last several decades by the communist regime in China. A key part of the performance is showing and bringing to life traditional values.
“I’ve always looked at the old culture, everything they brought on, and what [Shen Yun is] showing us over here just enhances everything that we believe in and see. It’s good for us,” said Mr. Thuna on the impact of the values presented in Shen Yun. “Especially as we grow older.”
The biggest portion of a Shen Yun performance is a number of short dance pieces, all using classical, traditional folk and ethnic Chinese dance, set to music by a orchestra. Classical Chinese dance has been developed over the millennia of Chines culture, and is capable of great expressive breadth.
“I think they are very good,” said Mr. Thuna about the dancing. “Very, very precise, very nice.”
“The girls are terrific and the guys also,” added Mrs. Thuna. “This is something that nobody should miss.”
In addition to the dance pieces are vocal performances, using the bel canto singing technique with Chinese lyrics. The words are projected on the backdrop, including a translation in English.
Mrs. Thuna was taken with the vocalists. “Great, great, the singers … are terrific.”
Though the backdrop is used for the lyrics during the vocal performances, it plays a much more involved role during the dance pieces: it brings to life all the various environments of the dances, from the plateaus of Tibet to ancient courts to heavenly paradises, states the company website.
“That’s fantastic. I’m amazed at what you’re doing there,” said Mr. Thuna about the company’s use of the backdrop. “That was really something.”
An audience favorite with the backdrop is how the performers interact with it, appearing to leap to and from the screen. “Unbelievable,” said Mrs. Thuna, “That is the best!”
Mrs. Thuna said she would tell her friends to “come and see it.”
“It’s a very enjoyable evening,” said Mr. Thuna about the show overall. “Very enjoyable show.”
Reporting by Teresa Oh and Maria Banks.
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company is performing in San Francisco, at the SHN Orpheum Theatre, March 20-24. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
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