NEW YORK—Jeffrey Wyant braved the wintry blast on Friday to experience Shen Yun Performing Arts at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater with his wife and granddaughter.
Creative director and Senior VP of E&M Advertising, Mr. Wyant said Shen Yun was “beautifully produced.”
Classical Chinese dance is at the heart of the performance, according to Shen Yun’s website. “Along with brilliant costumes, breathtaking projection, and an orchestra that combines both classical Western and Chinese instruments.”
Mr. Wyant said the use of the projections was “wonderful. The front projection and how they intertwine the use of the stage and the projection.”
Shen Yun uses state-of-the-art, animated backdrops to enhance the imagery of the dance story lines. The scenic background whisks the audience from ancient gardens to Mongolian grasslands, according to its website.
A core part of classical Chinese Dance is its bearing, which is a “particular inner spirit...with deep emotional expression,” according to Shen Yun website.
“It’s the first time I’ve ever seen dance like this,” Mr.Wyant said. “I think a lot of surprises were just how wonderful the movements were.”
In addition to deep, inner expressions, Shen Yun dancers must also master the “perfect coordination of every part of their body,” says the company website. Classical Chinese dance emphasizes the “direction of the gaze, placement of fingers,” which all require preciseness.
“I thought the show was just superb,” Mr. Wyant said.
He was also intrigued by the musical aspect of Shen Yun calling the music “excellent.”
Shen Yun Touring Company’s Orchestra fuses Eastern and Western instruments, which is highly difficult to harmonize, Shen Yun website explains.
Shen Yun uses classical Chinese instruments such as the two-stringed erhu, also known as the “Chinese violin,” and the brass and wood combined suona, which produces a distinctly Chinese flavor that resembles “bird calls,” describes the Shen Yun website.
Reporting by NTD Television and Amelia Pang.
New York-based Shen Yun has three companies touring the world. Shen Yun Performing Arts Touring Company will perform at New York’s Lincoln Center through Jan. 15.
For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3WTKCEA4tE[/video]
