STAMFORD, Conn---Brightly colored costumes catch the eye as dancers float across the stage before a dazzling backdrop depicting the heavens.
This opening scene of the production of Shen Yun Performing Arts transfixed audience members at the Palace Theatre in Stamford, Connecticut on March 30. The next two hours they were taken on a journey through 5,000 years of Chinese history, told by a combination of dance, music, and song.
“It was outstanding,” said Reese.
“It was gorgeous. The movements were just beautiful. They were like gliding across the stage. Just simply beautiful,” said Andrea.
“It was so different. It was fantastic,” said Marie.
Shen Yun Performing Arts is the premier classical Chinese company, founded with a goal to showcase traditional Chinese culture to audiences worldwide. Its program includes a mix of classical Chinese dance vignettes, vocal soloists, and dance-based storytelling.“The lighting, the choreography, the acrobatics, the music was phenomenal,” he said.
However, as a lighting professional he was particularly interested in that aspect of the performance.“I had to see that, it’s excellent. Yes, I even learned something,” he said.
Asked about what he learned, he said: “I like the way the lights came up center stage toward the end of each piece. It was excellent.”“I also like the way that projection was not interfered with [by] the lighting,” Reese said.
“Because they kept [the] upstage ... dark and all the lighting was mostly downstage. It was subtle upstage but very bright downstage.”
The backdrop itself was also a stand-out for Reese.“I’ve never seen projection like that in any theater,” he said.
“It was phenomenal [the] way that the projection coordinated with the movement on stage. It was great.”
Finally, as with many other audience members, Reese was drawn to the vibrant colors permeating the performance.“There were no ways to describe the color, from the costumes to the scenery in the back,” he said.
Overall, the artistry of the performance left a firm impression on Reese., who looked forward to Shen Yun’s new production next season.“I can’t wait to next year to see the other show.”