NEW YORK—Mathematician, Author, and Playwright Arthur Ziffer saw Shen Yun Performing Arts’ sold out performance at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater on Saturday.
“I thought it was an excellent show,” said Mr. Ziffer.
A major part of New York-based Shen Yun is classical Chinese dance. The art form, which dates back thousands of years, involves various flips and tumbling techniques.
The dance technique was a something that stood out to Mr. Ziffer.
“I love the show, I especially enjoyed [the flips and tumbling techniques],” said Mr. Ziffer.
Shen Yun showcases the spiritual and ethnic culture that has historically been a part of China and that is today repressed by the communist regime. Some acts depict the persecution of the Buddhist spiritual practice Falun Gong in modern China.
Mr. Ziffer said he found the references to Falun Gong very interesting.
“It is liberal. It is against communism in China. It is part of the movement in the world to make everybody free,” theorized Mr. Ziffer. “Maybe China will become more liberal as time goes on and Falun Gong will be more acceptable.”
As a playwright, he also found the performance interesting.
“The story was very interesting, in fact as I was watching it I was thinking of a play I’m going to write,” he said.
Retired poet also enjoys Shen Yun
Retired poet Georgeann Preston, also enjoyed Saturday night’s performance.
“I thought it was glorious,” said Ms. Preston. “It had a very beautiful message about how the good and the seekers of truth can find peace, and our world simply needs that. That message is very direct and clear.”
Specifically, Ms. Preston enjoyed the dancers and their handmade costumes.
“The dancers were beautiful. I loved their strength and their grace and when it was necessary to be tender, they were that too. And the colors were magnificent. Very beautifully put together,” she said.
She also liked the interaction between the performers and the digital backdrops.
“I like the combination they use so cleverly with the back screen and the dancers. There was something magical about that,” said Ms. Preston.
Reporting by Gloria Gao and Evan Mantyk
New York-based Shen Yun has three companies touring the world. Shen Yun Performing Arts Touring Company will perform at New York’s Lincoln Center through Jan. 15, and again April 18-22.
For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
