BOSTON—Shen Yun Performing Arts played its first of three shows to an enthusiastic and appreciative audience on Friday, Jan. 20, at the famed Boston Opera House. Among the audience was veteran economist Lincoln Anderson who brought his wife Natalia, a former soprano.
Mr. Anderson has had a distinguished career, including serving in President Ronald Reagan’s cabinet in various economic advisory capacities. After his time in public service, he went on to hold senior economic leadership positions with Bear Sterns in New York, Fidelity Investments of Boston, and finished his career as the Managing Director, Chief Investment Officer, and Chief Economist of Boston based LPL investments, which provides technology and advisory services to the investment professional community.
“I thought it was great,” said Mr. Anderson of the performance by the New York-based classical Chinese dance and music company. “The footwork in the … Tibetan piece [Khata for the Gods] is amazing to watch. It’s very good.”
Mr. Anderson was describing a vigorous male ethnic dance that is set in the awing Himalayan mountains where the dancers “step, stomp, spin and soar with joyful, vibrant energy,” according to the program book. As a prop, the dancers wield khatas, “a traditional scarf presented to guests. Here they offer it to the gods as a sign of reverence and devotion.”
Mr. Anderson was also pleasantly surprised by a story-based dance entitled The Choice, which is set in present-day China. In the story, two friends, a man and women part ways when he joins the police force and she takes up Falun Gong, a traditional spiritual and meditation practice which has been banned and persecuted in China for over a decade. Fate reunites the friends when he must choose between his duty and his conscience.
“It’s a pretty strong statement,” Mr. Anderson said. He was pleasantly surprised and supportive to see the modern-day issue of repression in China depicted on stage.
Mrs. Anderson, a former soprano, described Shen Yun’s vocal soloists as “very wonderful” and loved the lyrics to the songs they sang.
The female dancers also made a strong impression on her. She spoke of the long flowing sleeves of the female dancers’ costumes in the dance Sleeves of Silk, where the costume’s sleeves act as an extention to the dancers’ arms. She also enjoyed Lotus Leaves, a dance that draws upon the beauty and symbolism of the lotus flower.
Reporting by Timothy Pi and Cary Dunst.
Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. Shen Yun Performing Arts Touring Company will perform at the Boston Opera House through Jan. 22.
For more information visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
