MADISON, Wis.—On Feb. 19, former dance instructor Amanda Collins and her husband Killian, a company manager, attended Shen Yun Performing Arts’ evening performance at the Overture Center for the Arts.
“I’ve always wanted to see it for the last 10 years,” Mrs. Collins said. “I’m just so excited that we got to finally come and see it. [The dancers are] just so incredible. You can tell how skilled and trained they are. It’s just amazing, truly.”
Enriched by the wisdom of countless dynasties, it is now one of the world’s most comprehensive dance systems. However, in modern China, it is often mixed with military or modern styles, losing its traditional essence.
Only at Shen Yun, can you see it preserved and performed in its purest, most authentic form.
“I loved it so much … I loved that there was so much incorporation of the traditional styles and getting to see all that. … I liked looking at all the different footwear that they were using for the performances and just the technique was incredible. So, so beautiful,” she said.
Mr. Collins, too, was excited to attend Shen Yun. He’s always had a deep love for Chinese culture and was happy to support the arts.
“We bought tickets the day they came out. ... We’ve been planning for it a year in advance,” he said.
“I loved every minute of it, and [Shen Yun] really showed a lot in a very short amount of time. It’s only two hours, but it felt like so much more. I loved how they did so many different segments of stories and transitioned from one funny story [to] something more serious and portrayed different emotions throughout. It was fantastic.”
“[The music] brought up a lot of memories of the different types [of music] I listened to growing up. So, it was really enjoyable. I love a lot of that,” he expressed. “It’s just always been an inspiration, honestly. A warmness in itself.”
Last but not least, Mrs. Collins urges everyone who has not seen Shen Yun to seize the opportunity because “it’s definitely something that you have to see.”
“It’s just incredible, breathtaking, and if you have the opportunity, you should take it,” she said.
