CHICAGO—It was a cool night for May as Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company opened with their first performance at the Cadillac Palace Theater in downtown Chicago.
As people hustled out into the marble-laden lobby and foyer, Joseph Dixler, Vice President of an Industrial Manufacturing Corporation pondered on a performance he would come to describe as, “excellent, very exciting, and different.”
Shen Yun aims to recapture traditional Chinese culture through dance and song. Mr. Dixler, who had visited China in the past five times had seen shows, “but this company is really special and unique,” as he puts it.
The performance integrates a high-definition backdrop which interacts with the players with precision that leaves many spectators in awe of the timing, “the digital work that they did on the backdrops are incredible, really cutting edge as we say,” continued Mr. Dixler. “When you see the images coming forward onto the stage from the backdrop, it’s very, very effective.”
Both Mr. Dixler and his wife had never seen a backdrop like that used before.
Rosalie Dixler, retired travel agent, and wife of Joseph commented that, “what they’re doing has great variety. A story dance that stood out for her was called Sand Monk Is Blessed, which featured the popular character the Monkey King.
All the performances feature a live full orchestra nestled in the pit next to and under the stage. In describing the music of the various pieces: “they’re very very good and the thing that’s very interesting is that the music and dance keep your interest all the time, you do not get bored at all.”
Another scene that stood out for Mrs. Dixler was one entitled, Ancient Elegance. In this scene beautiful fairies use silk sleeves in their delicate dance rhythms. “I like the way they are using their sleeves, it’s beautiful.”
The technical skills in classical Chinese dance in the performances often has audience members clapping as the dancers execute them to great detail. “Everything is flawless and very, very interesting,” said Mrs. Dixler who thought the integration of the jumping, turning, and flipping techniques “into the dance is done beautifully.”
Reporting by Teresa Yin and Paul Darin
Shen Yun Performing Arts is performing at Cadillac Palace Theater, Chicago through May 12.
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.
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.
