WATERBURY, Conn.—Dancer Patulla Comstock and her husband Charles had a terrific evening watching Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Palace Theater on Wednesday night.
Mrs. Comstock, a former dancer who also previously owned a dance studio in Connecticut, said the performance was fabulous, with grace, precision, and overall beauty.
“Straight is difficult, but to bend over, turning like that—that was amazing, beautiful,” she said. Mrs. Comstock now owns an entertainment company, Van Tango and Company. She said it was a pity that most of the audience likely couldn’t tell how much hard work the dancers of Shen Yun had undertaken to reach such a high skill level.
New York-based Shen Yun accentuates the dance with digital backdrops, handmade costumes, and a unique orchestra which combines both classical Western and Chinese instruments. Yet it is classical Chinese dance, one of the most comprehensive dance systems in the world, that forms the core of the performance.
“Classical Chinese dance has a long history of thousands of years, passed down continuously within the imperial palace and ancient Chinese theater and opera,” states the company’s website. “Soaking up profound wisdom from every era and dynasty, it has become a complete system of dance embodying traditional aesthetic principles with its unique dance movements, rhythms, and inner meaning.”
Mrs. Comstock explained that dance allows people to enter another world, “you are just out there [with them].”
“Going along with them and saying, ‘Oh my, if I was only forty years younger.’”
Mrs. Comstock said: “It’s worthwhile coming to see, to go out of your way to see it.”
Mr. Comstock said the dancers seemed as if floating in some pieces.
He has traveled to Asia but never experienced such a genuine cultural experience.
“In the trips that I made to Taiwan, I picked up some of the Chinese culture, of course, but nothing like this—the beauty and the romantic presentation of the culture like that,” he said. “People can tell all of the different dynasties there are, but to see that explained in a musical atmosphere, brings a different perspective to the culture.”
The true Chinese culture, spanning back 5,000 years, was nearly decimated by the ruling communist regime in China. Shen Yun, a collection of overseas artists, formed to revive it through the arts.
Reporting by Gary Du and Zachary Stieber.
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
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