Shen Yun Performing Arts graced stages in Huntsville, Johnson City, and Mesa on Feb. 6 and 7. Audience members marveled at the show’s artistry.
“Very eye-opening and breathtaking. The performance is very eye-opening and breathtaking,” said Kip Hicks, who is the owner of Infinity Orthotics and Prosthetics, Inc.
“The show is lovely, it’s extravagant, excellent. I loved the coloring and the symmetry and the way they could stay together. I loved their technique. I also enjoyed the orchestra. How well done the musicians played their instruments and everything was very unified,” said Lori Ann Sparks, the founder and artistic director at Central Ballet Theatre.
“I love the fact that it was the integration of the Western and the Eastern instrumentation, and the music from both,” said Chris Armbrister, the director and producer at Thin Air Theatre Company.
Shen Yun has been touring around the world since 2006 with a mission: to revive 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture. Theatergoers praised the effort and took note of a deeper message.
“Traditions are so important because traditions are built in that’s just the core of who we are. Traditions bring forward that core. It’s a wonderful thing. Everyone should stand to their traditions and remember them,” said Jack Huerkamp, a farm owner.
“It’s an awesome mission for them to be doing. The passion, the devotion and continuing the art form but also putting their religion. And I mean it’s very out there, very upfront about … preserving that part of their culture as well,” said Ms. Sparks.
“The message of hope. The message of when the baritone sang that song, I thought the words were beautiful. It’s very inspiring and very refreshing to see that something is not watered down. That the message is very crisp and clear of hope for humanity,” said Mr. Hicks.
“Tradition is so important and that’s one of the things we’re losing in today, is tradition. They’re coming, trying to take it away a little bit,” said Peteris Barzins, who is the owner of Mobile Tax Services.
“We all should embrace our past and our roots. It’s a shame that we lose them because I think when we lose them we lose ourselves,” said Joseph Lipic, who is an engineer and CEO at Alexander Manufacturing.
Shen Yun has an all-new program every season, including new dances, music, songs, and backdrops.
“It gives you so much, it’s educational, it’s magical. It takes you to places that you wouldn’t think about. So I just truly enjoyed the show,” said Glenda Armbrister, the co-producer at Thin Air Theatre Company.
“I thought they did an amazing job bringing the heritage into today’s culture,” said Jeffrey Kennedy, the CEO at Kennedy and Sons Structural Solutions.
“I thought it was a display that I had not seen before. Something I didn’t understand about the Chinese culture, so I appreciated the insight into that. A glimpse, of the Chinese culture. That was beautiful,” said Michael Vallie, the owner of Vallie Insurance Agency.
Shen Yun will perform at the Merrill Auditorium in Portland on Feb. 10.
NTD News, New York
