SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun an Amazing Education in Art and Dance, Says Lifetime Member of the Korea Academy of Arts

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Shen Yun an Amazing Education in Art and Dance, Says Lifetime Member of the Korea Academy of Arts
Shen Yun Performing Arts World Company’s curtain call at the National Theater of Korea in Seoul, South Korea, on Feb. 15, 2023. Kim Guk-hwan/The Epoch Times
SEOUL, South Korea—One of Korea’s top artists praised the dance and artistic value of Shen Yun Performing Arts. She remarked that Shen Yun’s educational values for a dancer were as much as a textbook, and said she would like to recommend it to all dancers.
Ms. Park Myung-sook was very touched and inspired by Shen Yun.

“This performance is amazing from educational point of view, and for the artistic values,” said Ms. Park after attending Shen Yun Performing Arts at the National Theater of Korea in Seoul on Feb. 15.

Ms. Park is one of the 84 lifetime members of the Korea Academy of Arts. She is the winner of 2021 Highest Dancer Award of Republic of Korea and many other dance awards. As an experienced dancer, she enjoyed Shen Yun.

“The dances are very powerful. The dancers’ physical expressions are very rich,” she said. “Each program is concise but includes many techniques and values. One performance presents a variety of classical Chinese dances, which made me feel my two eyes aren’t enough.”

She said she was impressed. “You won’t feel bored at all. I was very touched by the dances. I learned a lot from them,” she added.

Ms. Park said Shen Yun is like a myth.

Shen Yun is a comprehensive artistic product. It coordinates the musicians of the live orchestra, dancers, choreography, and backdrop into one body. It’s fascinating.”
New York-based Shen Yun is the world’s top classical Chinese dance company, and has a mission to show the beauty and goodness of “China before communism.”

Moved by 3 Words

“I was mesmerized by the nice principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance, and the beautiful colors,” said Mr. Hwang Kyu-wan, the president of the Seokkyung Ancient Art Institute.

Mr. Hwang is an artist who creates moon jars, a type of traditional Korean white porcelain. After saw a Shen Yun commercial online, he invited several friends and attended together.

“When I first saw the three words: truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance in Shen Yun, I couldn’t understand the real meaning. When I saw it again, I understood,” he said. “I’m an artist. I think the fundamental purpose of art is to express the compassion from people’s hearts. So, I feel that Shen Yun is explaining what truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance are.”

Mr. Hwang said that arts can influence people, so arts must deliver positive meaning that can encourage and inspire people.

“When people can be mesmerized by good thoughts and colors, they take that happiness home with them,” he said with a smile. “I will recall my memory of Shen Yun frequently, and re-experience those positive feelings.”

Mr. Hwang said the current Korean society needs truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance, “especially the young generations.”

“I definitely will attend Shen Yun next year,” he said.

Mr. Hwang Kyu-wan, the president of the Seokkyung Ancient Art Institute, attends Shen Yun Performing Arts at the National Theater of Korea in Seoul, South Korea, on Feb. 15, 2023. (Kim Guk-hwan/The Epoch Times)
Mr. Hwang Kyu-wan, the president of the Seokkyung Ancient Art Institute, attends Shen Yun Performing Arts at the National Theater of Korea in Seoul, South Korea, on Feb. 15, 2023. Kim Guk-hwan/The Epoch Times

For 5,000 years. China’s civilization was built on values and virtues from the spiritual teachings of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism, virtues like loyalty, propriety, wisdom, justice, and benevolence—values that are universal and shared the world over.

Mr. Hwang enjoyed the presentation of Shen Yun.

“This is the first time in my life that I saw a dynamic backdrop that can interact with dancers. It’s very interesting and entertaining,” he said. “The dancers jumped into the backdrop from the stage and then flew into the air. Sometimes, they flew down from the sky in the backdrop, and then walked out of the backdrop to the stage. The design is so mysterious. It’s very advanced.”

Mr. Hwang said Shen Yun is the best show he has seen in his life.

“Shen Yun is amazing!” he said. “I still feel like I am inside the theater and I am floating on Shen Yun’s stage.”

Mr. Hwang was amazed by the coordination he saw in Shen Yun, in which the live orchestra, backdrop, and stage worked perfectly and accurately with each other.

“There are more things that I admire in Shen Yun. This is a large-scale production. Even  when all cast members are very experienced, some of them may have some faults, but I didn’t see any fault in Shen Yun. From the music and lighting, to props, everything is perfect. This is incredible,” he said. “Every moment of Shen Yun is very perfect.”

Each Shen Yun performance consists of nearly 20 vignettes, presented through highly-expressive art forms such as classical Chinese dance, original orchestral music performed live, soloists who sing in the bel canto tradition, animated digital backdrops, and more.
Reporting by Epoch Times Staff in Seoul, South Korea.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.
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