VIENNA, Austria—UN Peace Ambassador and actor, American native Joseph Reuben Silverbird, visiting from the U.S., attended the Shen Yun Performing Arts Touring Company’s classical Chinese dance and music performance at the Wiener Stadthalle on May 1.
Mr. Silverbird gladly accepted an invitation to see the New York-based Shen Yun company and was pleased to hear that the mission of Shen Yun is to reawaken China’s divinely bestowed 5,000-year-old culture, which has been lost under the 60-plus years of Chinese communist rule.
In a collection of short pieces, the audience travels from the legends of the culture’s creation through to stories of contemporary China.
Mr. Silverbird said, “I saw something of huge importance, the resurrection of traditional Chinese culture. I am a native American and believe that our indigenous cultures are also important, as is Asian culture.
“Shen Yun has portrayed so many wonderful scenes, regaling the audience with ancient Chinese traditions; so important these days.”
The detailed work on the hand-made costumes gives a beautiful vision of China’s rich history and the folk and ethnic dances.
“I love the costumes,” said Mr. Silverbird. “The gorgeous colors, the dances and music. And I’m amazed by the backdrop pictures and stage props.
“The performance manages to bring the traditions and ancient culture into today’s world, and that is done beautifully.”
Reporting by Sebastian Menke and Christina Riveland.
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
Mr. Silverbird gladly accepted an invitation to see the New York-based Shen Yun company and was pleased to hear that the mission of Shen Yun is to reawaken China’s divinely bestowed 5,000-year-old culture, which has been lost under the 60-plus years of Chinese communist rule.
In a collection of short pieces, the audience travels from the legends of the culture’s creation through to stories of contemporary China.
Mr. Silverbird said, “I saw something of huge importance, the resurrection of traditional Chinese culture. I am a native American and believe that our indigenous cultures are also important, as is Asian culture.
“Shen Yun has portrayed so many wonderful scenes, regaling the audience with ancient Chinese traditions; so important these days.”
The detailed work on the hand-made costumes gives a beautiful vision of China’s rich history and the folk and ethnic dances.
“I love the costumes,” said Mr. Silverbird. “The gorgeous colors, the dances and music. And I’m amazed by the backdrop pictures and stage props.
“The performance manages to bring the traditions and ancient culture into today’s world, and that is done beautifully.”
Reporting by Sebastian Menke and Christina Riveland.
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
