WASHINGTON—A week after China’s paramount leader Hu Jintao was received here, for a state visit dominated by talk of business and trade, another China was on display at the Kennedy Center. Performances by Shen Yun, a classical Chinese dance company, were recognized by Washington audiences as the truer representation of the Chinese people.
“It was a really remarkable performance. It was wonderful to see the dance and the culture of China… the wonderful dancing and music, of course. Extraordinary!” said retired Admiral Tom Marfiak, former Head of the US Naval War College and Senior Associate at Burdeshaw Associates.
Mr. Marfiak said that he thought most Americans have very little idea of other cultures and he felt “it’s important for all of us to be aware of the other cultures.”
He said he felt that Shen Yun had made many contributions to Western society, particularly by giving a sense of universality.
“Shen Yun shows that the music and the dance are contemporaneous across cultures. The energy of youth, the excitement of dancing and so on is a global experience. We have these common interests that we can work out together. I think it does a great job of conveying that,” Mr. Marfiak said.
Shen Yun performed at the Kennedy Center Opera House Jan. 26-30.
Bringing Traditions Back to Life
Shen Yun performances draw on China’s diverse 5,000 years of traditional culture. Through large-scale and intricately choreographed dances and vocals, historical themes are brought to life on stage. The spirit of ancient Chinese and ethnic traditions are expressed through dance movements that are often millennia-old.
“Chinese should be proud of them. They did a great job. They are the real ambassadors of the Chinese culture,” said Mr. Abdul Jalil Ghafoory, a media and public relations coordinator with the Afghanistan Embassy. “I was shocked, these young guys, they were so good.”
The New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts, a non-profit, has three companies touring the world and wowing audiences; but its performances cannot be seen inside China. That’s partly because of its mission, which is to revive China’s traditional culture after it was destroyed, then misappropriated, under decades of Communist rule.
Mr. Ghafoory was struck by the power of Shen Yun in conveying the truth of the Chinese culture.
“We need to understand our neighbors, but not only [on a] political level, but the culture, the strength, and all of the impressions that these people are giving in fact and spreading ... this is the Chinese culture, this the Chinese strength,” he said.
After Hu’s recent visit, Mr. Ghafoory said he wished that more people involved in the political discussions could know about Shen Yun and gain “some fruits of thought.”
“Everything was perfect, but not enough is spoken about this,” he added.
“What was outstanding was the choreography, and the dancing, and the tremendous cultural history that the show represented,” said Mr. Peter Franchot, comptroller from the State of Maryland.
He continued: “China is the oldest civilization in the world. We’re the oldest democracy, the United States. It’s very interesting to see the culture, the rich diverse culture, ethnic diversity of China represented through dance and song.”
“I think it’s very good for Americans to understand more about the Chinese cultural history,” concluded Mr. Franchot.
Rockville, Maryland mayor Phyllis Archucio, said the performance was “excellent,” and “spectacular.”
“I have to thank [Shen Yun] so much for putting on a performance that I will never forget,” she said.
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
