NEW YORK—David McFadden, former mayor of Tuxedo Park, New York, sat in the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center Thursday night and saw a cultural show both foreign and familiar. The New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts Company has returned to Lincoln Center for a special weekend of performances.
The company revives the 5,000 year old rich and varied Chinese heritage. Mr. McFadden felt Shen Yun at the same time portrayed a universal, human heritage.
It carried for him a message of struggle, drama and changes on a grand scale, “the different histories of different continents all brought together for a great experience here.”
“It is universal, but is so unique,” said Mr. McFadden. He saw the special quality of the heritage Chinese have traditionally held to be divinely inspired. He saw in the dancers themselves an intimate connection with the story they told.
“The dancers put in so much emotion in what they are trying to say,” said Mr. McFadden. The performers are chosen for their world class skill in classical Chinese dance. They are mostly of Chinese heritage, but most were born in the West. The show helps them and many other Chinese reconnect with their culture, which was damaged and suppressed in its birthplace.
Mr. McFadden described the synchronicity of the dancers as a natural wonder.
“The dancers were all almost perfect, and worked so beautiful together, like a school of fish or a flock of birds,” said Mr. McFadden.
Reporting by Evan Mantyk and Tara MacIsaac
Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company will perform at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater in New York City, June 23-26. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
