FORT MYERS, Fla.—Betty Dent, retired country program director for foreign military sales for the U.S. Department of Defense, called the April 23 Shen Yun performance stunning.
It was New York-based Shen Yun’s debut performance in Southwest Florida. Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company, one of Shen Yun’s three touring companies, had just completed an engagement in St. Louis. Shen Yun’s first-ever performance in Fort Myers was to a full house at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall.
“I thought it was a stunning performance, absolutely beautiful. The talent is incredible. And the orchestra was perfect—the sound effects and the integration of the screen with the stage and all,” she said, referring to Shen Yun’s unique animated backdrops.
The digital backdrops extend the stage and transport audiences to heavenly realms, palace scenes, historic battlegrounds, and rich landscapes.
“These digital backdrop designs complement and synchronize all aspects of the performance: the characters, color of the costumes, specific dance movements, props, lighting, the story being told, particular notes played by the orchestra, and special audio effects,” the Shen Yun website states.
“I thought it was stunning—absolutely,” she said.
Speaking of Shen Yun’s presentation of traditional Chinese culture and the orchestra’s combination of Eastern and Western instruments, she said, “I thought it was fantastic.”
Shen Yun’s mission is to revive China’s 5,000 years of divine culture, a treasure that was nearly lost under decades of communist rule.
A professional photographer had told Ms. Dent about the production. “It’s beyond what I expected,” she said.
“My friend Jan came down from Port Charlotte [Florida] to join me,” Ms. Dent said. She would absolutely come back to see Shen Yun again next year if it returns, she said. “And I'll tell all my friends.”
Shen Yun concludes its Fort Myers engagement tonight at 7:30.
Reporting by Muran Liang and Louise Rothman
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time. We have proudly covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.
