KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan—“The Shen Yun show involves creativity, innovation, novelty, and perseverance. A nation whose people maintain the momentum of Shen Yun will have a promising future and achieve success,” said professor Li Zhangjie admiringly. He is the director and chief of Kaohsiung City Experimental Chorus. He saw the show on March 16.
Mr. Li is also a program director of a broadcasting company and a drama director. His eyes glowing with wisdom, he expressed his feelings, gratitude, and admiration.
“Shen Yun is the hope of a nation and a people, because each of its performers maintains momentum, unity, enthusiasm, and devotion. Besides, it is a large-scale show, equipped with high-tech devices to which I particularly pay attention. I dare to say that no other performing group in other countries, like Japan and Korea, gains such momentum.
“I would not talk about aesthetics since momentum is the top priority. Sometimes the so-called aesthetic beauty is a standstill or an undisciplined state, while momentum is symbolic of unity and joint efforts. A performance revealing such momentum indicates that our country and people have a promising future.
“I am not singing insincere praises. For example, all of the audience kept clapping. Besides being the chief of a chorus, I am also a program director of a broadcasting company. I focus my attention on details both onstage and offstage. Elements—like staging, the dance scene, performers’ marching to the stage, backdrops, the overall arrangement, the stage, and the acoustics—are perfectly integrated. The acoustics in the theater are loud enough but not piercing, which is really an art.
“The performance is composed of many dancing programs and a number of solos. It presents energy, momentum and perseverance. In the course of watching the performance, audience members find hope and creativity. I would like to emphasize again: The whole performance offers hopes and creativity. ... I pay close attention to each performer’s facial expressions. Each performer concentrates their attention on the performance. Their attentiveness reveals hope for our country.
“What most impresses me is the scene about a child [Heaven Awaits Us Despite Persecution]. I saw perseverance to endure hardships conveyed. The dancer performed vividly. I have directed many plays which put stress on facial expressions. But the program involves no dialogue. If a dialogue is included, it is easier for performers to present the plot. Otherwise, facial expressions are adopted to express the moral: Even suffering atrocity, one is never intimidated and keeps struggling. I appreciated the program a lot. While dancing, backdrops, and legends are very good, I think the program conveys the most artistic concept. If it is presented in other countries, experts or laymen will admire the program and feel touched. This is really amazing! Considering the youth of the child, she did a very good job. The child in the program will be a leading figure.
“I am very moved by the performance. Audience members feel delighted and excited, applauding enthusiastically. Onstage are performers, and offstage are audiences. Both of them are integrated into a whole. It’s really incredible! The show is well worth my time. I hope to watch this show often in Taiwan instead of annually. Then Taiwanese morale can be boosted, and the economy will be revived.
“I have attended many shows. But this show involves creativity, innovation, novelty, and perseverance. All the other shows are clichéd, and audiences forget the content of the show after they leave the theater. But maybe one month or one year from now, I will still remember the spirit of Shen Yun. It’s really amazing.
“I have no intention to lavish praise on it [Shen Yun]. Nor am I singing insincere praises. I am quite serious. As a director, I put emphasis on the devotion of performers. I dislike performers who slacken and perform perfunctorily. But it [Shen Yun] is another story. You see, every performer is devoted. It’s really incredible! Really incredible! Witnessing such momentum, we see hope for our nation and our people. In this way, Chinese people will have a promising future. I am really grateful to Shen Yun for bringing us hope.”
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of the Shen Yun Performing Arts 2009 World Tour. For more information please visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
