SAN FRANCISCO—Shen Yun Performing Arts’ cultural performance left sociology and international studies professor Michael Schutz feeling “inspired and elevated.” He saw the performance for the second year in a row with his wife in San Francisco, this time at the SHN Orpheum Theatre Thursday night.
“The beauty of it is serene and uplifting. It truly is,” said Dr. Schutz, who has had a lifelong interest in Asian studies. “I think it is absolutely marvelous.”
“When we heard [Shen Yun] was coming back this year, it was automatic that we would come,” Dr. Schutz said.
Dr. Schutz appreciated the traditional Chinese culture that New York-based Shen Yun features. “It shows that we can enjoy some truly beautiful things wherever they come from,” Dr. Schutz said. “The dance, the music—everything is fabulous.”
“Being spiritual I think is part of everybody’s life,” said Dr. Schutz. The divine aspect of the 5,000-year-old culture was present through the dances, one being a story that told of the Tang Emperor’s journey to the moon. “I think we all need spiritual things in our lives. That’s a beautiful thing.”
“I think that the more we think about the meaning of life, we go higher than what is day to day,” Dr. Schutz said. “We reach for something higher in life and beauty can take us there. It’s kind of like the emperor going to the moon.”
“That really struck me a lot,” Dr. Schutz said, adding that he enjoyed the mix of emotions brought on stage.
Through classical Chinese dance, Shen Yun’s performers are able to be richly expressive as the art form was based on traditional aesthetics and values passed down through the dynasties, according to Shen Yun’s website.
“A lot of them were really beautiful and funny,” Dr. Schutz said. “I liked the comedy. There were a lot of things that I thought were fabulous.”
“China is such a huge country with many parts and different cultures and different peoples. It’s fascinating,” Dr. Schutz said. “I enjoyed it very much.”
As a longtime collector and dealer of Asian art, Dr. Schutz said he has special experience with the culture, “but even for people who don’t, who have no connection with Asia, I think they can still find it beautiful, and uplifting.”
With reporting by NTD Television, Jasper Fakkert, and Catherine Yang
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company is performing in San Francisco, at the SHN Orpheum Theatre, March 20-24. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
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