In this prestigious theater, the internationally acclaimed, New York-based Shen Yun brought 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture to life through classical Chinese dance and music. The enthusiastic audience appreciated the grand spectacle and honored the performers with a standing ovation at the conclusion of the performance.
Katherine Barnes, a nurse who has worked internationally and is now a hobby painter in retirement, was in the audience. She said Shen Yun was “very entertaining, it’s very beautiful.”
She shared her concern over the social oppression in China today, saying, “It’s very tragic in China—that there’s so many culture’s beliefs that are clashing right now.”
Ms. Barnes shared that she has many Chinese friends whom she had grown up with who were unable to return to their homeland because of the oppression.
She said, “You don’t realize that you have the freedom, here, to say things without the fear of retribution, and I think it’s beautiful.
“In Fort Worth, in Arlington, we have a large Chinese culture—a lot of people that I’ve gone to school with, and they tell me sad stories. They like their country here, but they miss home.”
Ms. Barnes appreciated the two contemporary dances depicting human rights violations against practitioners of Falun Gong in China today. “Seeing that portrayed in these little vignettes is informative, and it puts a very nice light on something so tragic.”
Ms. Barnes felt that Shen Yun brought hope to the Chinese people and a glimpse of what will come. “It’s challenging my perception of what China might be,” she said.
Ms. Barnes appreciated the many aspects of Shen Yun. “I like watching the young women dancing, but I love the orchestra. And the tenor, oh, he just—but the last woman, the alto! Oh, she’s amazing!” she said.
‘The artistry is phenomenal’
Barbara Foley, an airplane subcontractor, was also in the audience. She enjoyed the cultural experience of Shen Yun.
“It’s a cultural experience for me to see Chinese folk dancing. It’s colorful. It’s elegant. It’s very pretty,” she said.
Shen Yun brings folk dances from various ethnic regions of China to life.
“I like to learn about different places like the Tibetan dance. It’s very enjoyable. The fact that there are traditions from different areas of China. They’re peaceful. I get the message of peace especially when they show the Buddha.”
Ms. Foley was amazed by the quality of the performances. “The artistry is phenomenal. The people are very, very professional. Very agile! ... It’s just so flowing and beautifully done.”
In summing up she described Shen Yun as “very beautiful, very elegant, very graceful.”
With reporting by NTDTV.
Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company will next perform two shows in Austin on August 7, at Long Center for the Performing Arts. For more information, please visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts.
