FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.—Three friends, all seasoned travelers, love the arts and have spent a lot of time abroad. They decided to see Shen Yun Performing Arts on opening night at the Broward Center in honor of one of the friends who used to be a ballet dancer.
During intermission, Wanda Lee Panetta, who had worked and traveled many years with American Airlines, said of the show: “It’s just wonderful. I’m enjoying every second of it. I don’t even want anyone to speak to me. The choreography is wonderful. The precision, the way they move, my goodness, it’s just wonderful!”
She said that she had never seen anything like the performance before in all of her travels.
“My heart is full, very full. … I can’t wait to go home and tell my husband.” I want to come back to see it again with my husband. I loved every minute of it.” Her husband is a pianist.
Deanna Pedrini used to be a ballet dancer. “It was magic, pure magic!” she said. “We had the beauty, the elegance, the choreography, music, costumes, and the singers—which I did not expect apart from the dance. It was complete.
“For me, it was sublime. I can’t say anything better than that. I’ve seen many ballets, in London particularly, but this was quite unique. I’m happy to be here this evening. The choreography is excellent. There is such synchronization.” She said Shen Yun has “quite unique soloists as well.”
Loretta Franchini used to be a professional fashion designer in New York. She graduated from the Fashion Institute and worked for several different companies in New York. She went on to teach, spending 18 years in Italy.
“I thought the colors were extraordinary,” she said. “What I would really love to tell you is that it was just so beautiful: the colors, the costumes, beautiful coordination with the … scenery in the back,” she said, speaking of the animated backdrops.
“I think the entire show is worth seeing, and I would recommend it to anybody.” She said she hopes to see the show in London in April.
Ms. Panetta added that she loved the idea of the relationship with the divine and the spirituality of the show.
The mission of Shen Yun, which is based in New York, is to revive traditional Chinese culture, its values and principles, such as the belief that good is rewarded and evil is punished.
According to the Shen Yun website, “At a time when the influence of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism was strong in the Middle Kingdom, art was a means of connecting with the higher universe.”
Many of the songs (“The Choice,” “For What Is Life?”) and dances (Celestial Beauty, No Regrets) have spiritual themes.
Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company, one of three touring companies, will conclude its performances at the Broward Center on Friday, Feb. 4.
Reporting by Edie Bassen and Estelle Morgan.
For more information, please visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
During intermission, Wanda Lee Panetta, who had worked and traveled many years with American Airlines, said of the show: “It’s just wonderful. I’m enjoying every second of it. I don’t even want anyone to speak to me. The choreography is wonderful. The precision, the way they move, my goodness, it’s just wonderful!”
She said that she had never seen anything like the performance before in all of her travels.
“My heart is full, very full. … I can’t wait to go home and tell my husband.” I want to come back to see it again with my husband. I loved every minute of it.” Her husband is a pianist.
Deanna Pedrini used to be a ballet dancer. “It was magic, pure magic!” she said. “We had the beauty, the elegance, the choreography, music, costumes, and the singers—which I did not expect apart from the dance. It was complete.
“For me, it was sublime. I can’t say anything better than that. I’ve seen many ballets, in London particularly, but this was quite unique. I’m happy to be here this evening. The choreography is excellent. There is such synchronization.” She said Shen Yun has “quite unique soloists as well.”
Loretta Franchini used to be a professional fashion designer in New York. She graduated from the Fashion Institute and worked for several different companies in New York. She went on to teach, spending 18 years in Italy.
“I thought the colors were extraordinary,” she said. “What I would really love to tell you is that it was just so beautiful: the colors, the costumes, beautiful coordination with the … scenery in the back,” she said, speaking of the animated backdrops.
“I think the entire show is worth seeing, and I would recommend it to anybody.” She said she hopes to see the show in London in April.
Ms. Panetta added that she loved the idea of the relationship with the divine and the spirituality of the show.
The mission of Shen Yun, which is based in New York, is to revive traditional Chinese culture, its values and principles, such as the belief that good is rewarded and evil is punished.
According to the Shen Yun website, “At a time when the influence of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism was strong in the Middle Kingdom, art was a means of connecting with the higher universe.”
Many of the songs (“The Choice,” “For What Is Life?”) and dances (Celestial Beauty, No Regrets) have spiritual themes.
Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company, one of three touring companies, will conclude its performances at the Broward Center on Friday, Feb. 4.
Reporting by Edie Bassen and Estelle Morgan.
For more information, please visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
