SAN FRANCISCO—Shen Yun Performing Arts performed for a sold-out audience at the SHN Orpheum Theatre on Saturday, March 23. Among those attending the performance was Olympic gold medalist swimmer Mark Henderson.
“We loved it! We loved it! It’s very good, and my daughter is five years old, so it’s perfect for her,” Mr. Henderson said after watching the performance.
Mr. Henderson is a former professional swimmer. In his career, he was an Olympic gold medalist as well as three-time world champion and five-time national swimmer. Now he is a managing director at Janney Capital.
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has the mission to revive 5,000 years of Chinese culture. The hallmark of Shen Yun’s performances is classical Chinese dance, an art form that includes difficult flips and tumbling techniques.
Mr. Henderson said he enjoyed these athletic moves. “It’s beautiful, and they’re in very good shape,” he said.
He said he “liked the synchronicity of the Chinese dancing.”
He especially appreciated the digitally animated backdrops. “It’s beautiful. I like how they bring them both together—live and animated,” he said.
Shen Yun uses state-of-the-art digital backdrop technology in its performances, taking audience members on a magical journey through China’s 5,000 years of history.
He said he loved the first act in the performance, called Descending to the World.
“I loved it, I loved it. That showed a lot of creativity.”
He said he would tell his friends: “They should come.”
Reporting by Gary Wang and Jasper Fakkert
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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