SEATTLE—The audiences who watched Shen Yun Performing Arts at Marion Oliver McCaw Hall on April 3 through 6 loved the all-new season.
Kristin Ball felt something sweet and something divine in Shen Yun. “The choreography was great and there was a bit of playfulness in the show, which was also very sweet,” she said.
“What got my heart was the spiritual message. The message that we’re all working to get to the divine, and it referenced working many lifetimes to get there and I thought that was beautiful,” Ms. Ball said.
Actress Amber Cantu, the sixth-generation granddaughter of Chief Seattle, approved of Shen Yun’s mission to revive traditional Chinese culture before communism.
“That mission is very important, because I believe we can all learn from Chinese culture and the beauty it brings,” she said. “People have to come and see this. I’m going to say this is a must-see experience.”
New York-based Shen Yun is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance company, with a mission to revive 5,000 years of Chinese civilization.
Business owner Alex Ivy Dobbs stressed the value of reviving Chinese culture. “I think it’s extremely important to keep everyone’s cultures alive. It’s easy to be forgotten over time if someone’s not carrying it on,” Ms. Dobbs said.
“This is one of the most beautiful, mesmerizing performances. I would recommend it for families to get together, and bring their children, bring parents, bring grandparents. Just basically, it’s so wonderfully made. The family needs to attend it as a unit. That’s my recommendation,” she said.
A Message of Faith and Hope
Many audience members said they resonated with what they described as a spiritual message within Shen Yun.“[Shen Yun] was very deep in faith and hope in the human spirit. [It’s about] how other things that people proclaim as good or as acceptable today are not so good. Like atheism ruining the hope of the human heart. So, that’s a good message,” said Mark Dohogne, a company director.
Company owner Dennis Creson enjoyed the stories dramatized in dance, especially a story from the classic “Journey to the West.” “It’s humorous and easy to follow,” he said.
Alan Francisco, a retired musician, admired Shen Yun’s orchestra. “They do new music for every one of the shows and it’s just amazing to get them together,” he said.
Jennifer Anderson, a small business owner who is also a musician, referred to the erhu when she said: “The live orchestra was wonderful. The two-string instrument was incredible. I didn’t know that was the instrument that made that sound. That was great to learn.”
A musician and artist with his own label, Joseph Dobbs said: “This was the most beautiful show I’ve seen and also the lady who performed the erhu was absolutely incredible. It was a very beautiful show, truly, truly exquisite.”
Lee Cleve, a retired software company director, was happy for the opportunity to see 5,000 years of Chinese civilization brought to life, a side of China many aren’t familiar with since the Chinese communist regime sought to destroy traditional Chinese culture after seizing power in 1949. Shen Yun is banned in China.
Mingyi Wang said he saw in Shen Yun the kind side of China, the cultural side of China, and the classical legacy the millennia-old civilization had to offer.
It was the third time for Pastor Rex Chade to watch a Shen Yun performance. “It was exceptional, I mean more than exceptional. Very impressive! It needs to be a part of your life experience,” he said.
Company CEO Regina Glenn gave her recommendation: “If you want to see something that has both grace and beauty, music and charm, with a very deep root in history, this is the show to see.”
There are still opportunities to see Shen Yun in the greater Seattle area, including Vancouver, B.C., and Calgary and Edmonton in April and May.
