KAMAKURA, Japan—A Japanese doctor attended Shen Yun Performing Arts in Kamakura, Japan on Jan. 15. He said he enjoyed the show very much, “I watch it more, I love it more.”
“The male dancers jump very high and spin very fast, but they synchronize with each other without any fault or mess. It’s extraordinary,” he said. “The female dancers move beautifully. They present the stories in detail, down to their fingertips and toes. It’s clear that they must make a huge effort to make this happen.”
“The dancers are outstanding. They have remarkable physical abilities,” he said. “They must have been trained quite rigorously.”
Ms. Kobayashi Junko, a dance instructor, was surprised by Shen Yun dancers’ techniques, performances, and coordination.
“Every step and every movement of theirs shows their concentration. Every dancer can manage the right expression at every second. Their movements are very accurate and so well-coordinated. It’s really brilliant!” she said.
“[The female dancers] paid attention to all their movements, including their fingertips and costume’s angles. It’s stunning!” she said. “They controlled the whole body to deliver an enjoyable elegance.”
Ms. Kobayashi was enchanted by the culture that Shen Yun presents.
“I was very touched. I learned about culture, the traditional Chinese culture from Shen Yun, and not just about dance,” she said. “I hope more people can attend Shen Yun.”
Moved by the Stories and Music
Mr. Kobayashi Fuminori, a department manager at Kanagawa Prefectural Medical Center, enjoyed the stories that Shen Yun presented.“The performance tells many traditional stories. I was very moved and enjoyed them,” he said. “You know, the show even has a satire on the existing system. I was very interested in watching it.”
Mr. Kobayashi also commented on Shen Yun’s orchestra.
“The music is captivating,” he said. “It not only has Western instruments, it combines Eastern and Western instruments, which is novel and beautiful.”
“I’ve seldom heard the erhu. Its sound is very fresh. It plays with the orchestra very harmoniously,” he said.
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.
Shen Yun Brings Hope
Mr. Nagano Hideki, the chairman of a non-profit organization supporting Ukrainian refugees, said Shen Yun can bring hope to people, especially to Ukrainians who were forced to leave their home country. So, he and his wife Keiko attended Shen Yun with 10 Ukrainians on Jan. 15.“We and our Ukrainian friends are very happy,” he said. “This is really spectacular! It moves our hearts. We are empowered.”
Mr. Nagano said Shen Yun is uplifting and inspiring.
“Without using any words, the story-based dances were understood by us. We learned the key values and messages from the stories. It’s really magnificent,” he said.
“I’m very excited. The performance is superbly wonderful. Nothing can be as nice as Shen Yun,” she said.
Shen Yun Performing Arts World Company has finished all four performances of this season in Kamakura, Japan. Next, the company will perform in Kawaguchi, Japan from Jan. 17 to 19.