ESCONDIDO, Calif.—Neil Spellman, an independent financial advisor and former VP on Wall Street, was in awe of the world-class classical Chinese dance and music company Shen Yun Performing Arts, staged at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, on Jan. 21.
“I think it’s fantastic. I’m really enjoying [it]—especially the costumes,” Mr. Spellman said. “I’m always just fascinated to learn what I can about other cultures. It’s very enjoyable.”
Based in New York, Shen Yun has at heart a mission to reawaken traditional Chinese culture through a collection of stories taken from ancient legends and folkloric and ethnic traditions, through to modern-day China.
Mr. Spellman was trying to digest such story-dances portraying China today, of the current persecution of Falun Gong, an ancient form of meditation, practiced in more than 100 countries—banned only in China.
“I guess [I’m] just trying to concentrate on what I’m perceiving as a storyline in their culture; struggle for good versus evil—so that’s sort of soaking into my head.”
He also enjoyed the Shen Yun Performing Arts Orchestra’s harmonious blend of ancient Eastern and modern Western instruments in all original composition.
“What’s nice is that it’s live, and I could hear some of the more traditional Chinese instruments, which is different for somebody like me. It’s very good.”
Projected behind the dancers are hi-tech images that lift the stage and set it amidst blossoming landscapes, deep forests, Mongolian prairies, or celestial paradises, says the company’s website.
“I really enjoyed that! I liked the way the pictures come to [life] with real actors or dancers. I like that transition. To me it gives more of an indication of the little bit of fantasy … to real dancers. It’s very good.”
Brings Back Childhood Memory
Also in the audience was Sutisa Amorasingh, who was reminded of a childhood story Shen Yun brought to the stage.
“I’m half Chinese and half Vietnamese,” she said. “This brings back the story that my mom told me about the monkey, [How the Monkey King Came to Be] about the bad monkey and the Buddha.”
In conclusion, she said: “The performance is awesome. It’s really nice. … Very soft, very smooth. Very enjoyable.”
Reporting by Lu Rusong and Raiatea Tahana-Reese.
Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company will next perform in Phoenix, at the ASU Gammage, Jan. 27 to 29. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
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