AUGUSTA, Ga.–Lane Skinner, superintendent of the Savannah River Site and Kristan Johnson, engineer, were a part of the packed audience enjoying Shen Yun Performing Arts Touring Group at the William Bell Auditorium on Jan. 31.
Based in New York, Shen Yun Performing Arts was established in 2006 with the mission of reviving 5,000 years of divinely inspired Chinese culture according to the 2012 program. With over 100 artists involved in the production—dancers, musicians, world-class vocalists, costume and set artists—Shen Yun presents a colorful and exhilarating performance of Chinese classical dance.
“I love it! It’s great,” said Mr. Skinner, who said he was grateful to have a world-class show like Shen Yun come all the way to Augusta, the second largest city in Georgia. “It is good for us to have something come to us for a change instead us having to go way up there [to New York].
The part of the performance that stood out for Mr. Skinner was the dance. “I taught ballroom dance in the past and you know it seems well choreographed and has a lot of energy.”
The art of Chinese classical dance has been passed down continuously within the imperial palace and ancient Chinese theater and opera. Shen Yun dances recount ancient myths, bygone heroes or celestial paradises, according to its website. Whether set in the past or in contemporary China, every dance embodies traditional Chinese values.
Mr. Skinner said, “They are great. I think they did a great job with it.”
Ms. Johnson also enjoyed the performance, she said at intermission. “The show so far is good, it’s different; I like it. It’s nice to see a different type of dance. Everybody’s different interpretation of music is always good to learn—I am enjoying it very much.”
Reporting by Mary Silver and Sophia Bronwen.
Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company will perform next in Cincinnati and then in Raleigh, North Carolina.
For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
