KANSAS CITY, Mo.—The patriarch of one of the most powerful banking families in the Midwest was in the audience at Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company in Kansas City, Jan. 23.
James Kemper, Jr. has led a full life. He is chairman emeritus of Commerce Bancshares, Inc., an alumni director at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, a trustee of the Midwest Research Institute, former president of Commerce Trust Company (which was one of the largest banks in the U.S.), and the former chairman at Tower Properties, among many other organizations.
New York-based Shen Yun has a mission to revive 5,000 years of divinely-inspired Chinese culture, according to the Shen Yun website. With three companies that perform worldwide to approximately 100 cities, Shen Yun performs in many of the grandest venues in the United States, such as the Kauffman Center in Kansas City, the Kennedy Center in D.C., and Lincoln Center in New York City.
Mr. Kemper said it was Shen Yun’s good marketing in the lead up to their performance that sparked his curiosity, and he found the performance unique.
‘Fascinating, and intriguing’
Like Mr. Kemper, Joan Israelite was drawn to the performance due to local promotional efforts in television and newspaper ads: “They’ve done very good advertising.”
Ms. Israelite, a consultant for the year-old Kauffman Center in development and donor relations, attended the performance at the Kauffman Center in the Muriel Kauffman Theater with her friend Vickie.
“It’s lovely,” Ms. Israelite said. “I absolutely loved it. It’s wonderful, fascinating, and intriguing.”
Shen Yun was created by artists from around the world with a shared vision to bring back traditional Chinese culture and its values. The culture was all but lost due to the 60-plus years of rule of the Communist party, particularly during the Cultural Revolution.
Shen Yun is based in New York and because only outside of China is it free to depict ancient culture through the arts: including classical Chinese, traditional folk and ethnic dance, orchestral music, vocal soloists, colorful costumes, and interactive digital backdrops.
“I like all of it—the costuming is just fabulous, beautiful, the colors and the flowing of the materials, really beautiful,” Ms. Israelite said.
“The athletic ability of the dancers is awesome,” Vickie noted.
Both said they would be back next year to see Shen Yun: “I think it’s spectacular,” Ms. Israelite said. “I would come back.”
Ten years of research, planning and design were involved to create the stunning Kauffman Center. The grand opening was in September of 2011. Its mission is to offer extraordinary and diverse performing arts experiences. Kauffman is also the home of the Kansas City Ballet, Lyric Opera, and Kansas City Symphony.
Reporting by SOH Radio Network, Sarah Matheson, and Cat Rooney.
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
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