CHICAGO—Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company is at Chicago’s Cadillac Palace from May 10 through May 12. In just a few minutes after the curtain lifted on opening night, theater goers witnessed a glimpse of heaven, traveled through the galaxy, and were placed before the pomp and pageantry of ancient China’s imperial court.
The show takes the audience on a journey through 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture. Shen Yun’s mission is to bring this divinely inspired civilization to life though classical Chinese dance, orchestral music, and award winning vocal soloists.
“The show was just outstanding,” said Dan Pasulka, an attorney for McGuire Woods. “It’s wonderful … the dancing and the colors, it’s just tremendous.”
The production includes 20 mini-dramas that unfold over two and a half hours. Each story explores a different aspect of China’s well-storied and multi-ethnic culture.
Mr. Pasulka’s favorite scene was the Mongolian Bowl Dance, where graceful performers execute impressive jumps and tumbles while effortlessly balancing bowls on their heads.
“I like the bowls,” the lawyer said. “The balance is unbelievable.”
Another scene that caught Mr. Pasulka’s eye was An Unexpected Encounter—the tale of a father and daughter on vacation, and a misunderstanding that lands them in jail. As the pair snap photos in the park, police descend on a group of Falun Dafa practitioners meditating nearby. Father and daughter get caught in the confusion, and everyone gets beaten and hauled off to prison.
While most of the show focuses on tales from ancient China, this narrative reflects a modern tragedy, where Falun Dafa practitioners are persecuted for their faith. Mr. Pasulka was familiar with the persecution because he had previously witnessed local efforts to stop it.
“It’s the [Chinese] government trying to suppress [Falun Gong practitioners],” he said.
Shen Yun has performed in Chicago every year since 2006, and each year brings an entirely new program. Mr. Pasulka said he had heard about the show for the past three years, but this was the first time he has seen it. He said he would certainly recommend the show to his friends and colleagues.
“The dancing is wonderful, the pageantry is lovely, it’s beautiful, and it’s got a message,” he said.
“The message is that there are some problems there people need to understand; issues that the Chinese people are facing.”
Reporting by Stacy Tang and Conan Milner
Shen Yun Performing Arts, based in New York, tours the world on a mission to revive traditional Chinese culture. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time. We have proudly covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.
Shen Yun Performing Arts’ last scheduled performances for this season are in Chicago on May 10-12 and Syracuse, May 12.
