SALT LAKE CITY— Retired U.S. Army Colonel Dr. Adele Young thought Shen Yun Performing Arts was “absolutely excellent” when she attended the company’s evening show at the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater on March 21.
“The rhythm and the movements were so precise and so well choreographed. It brought a great deal of appeal to the eye and also to the heart,” she said during intermission.
“It raised the joy in the heart by watching these dancers with their facial expressions as well as their beautiful costumes all in sync, all coordinated, all in tune, and all on time.”
Unlike the modern, military-influenced styles often seen in China today, Shen Yun preserves and performs this tradition in its most authentic form, as it was originally passed down through generations.
“This is something unique that I did not know about. At the beginning of the performance tonight, they had many, many [divine beings that] come down from heaven. I had no idea that the Chinese had this as part of their cultural belief system, and I thought it was beautiful,” she said.
“That was fascinating. I loved to see that because we here in America [believe] in Jewish faith or in Christian faith, we also believe in a heaven. ... To see that we have this commonality with the Chinese is just uplifting. It makes me happy to see it.”
“I thought that was marvelous to learn. I’m so glad that was part of the dance,” she added.
This evening’s performance will stay with Dr. Young for a long time, she said. Even after watching just the first half, she already felt “so happy, uplifted, energetic, and full of hope.”
The artists “were so uplifting to all of us. It gave joy and hope and happiness to all of the audience,” she said.
