CHICAGO—On a rare, special occasion, Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company returns to Chicago, July 7-8, for this year’s only summer shows at the beautiful downtown Civic Opera House.
Shen Yun has always attracted guests of all ages, cultures, and occupations, and this Saturday evening’s performance is no different. As some guests pour into the lobby to enjoy refreshments during intermission, a retired fashion industry couple reflect on the unique display presented by New York-based Shen Yun.
Fred Hammer and his wife Joyce Hammer prepared for a night of culture and wonderment as they happened upon Shen Yun, earlier this season, and decided to educate and entertain themselves with this theatrical treat.
“They were passing out literature about this evening and we decided we were going to make an investment into this occasion in order to find out more about China and their tradition,” Mr. Hammer said.
Mr. Hammer, a retired clothing industry salesman once sold for Carson Pirie Scott before his retirement, he said.
“You can see the control and their commitment to the dance,” Mr. Hammer said about the dancers.
His wife and companion on this theatrical journey is Joyce Hammer, a semi-retired freelance Fashion Show industry coordinator who markets herself by name and reputation.
The Hammers, who sought an educational experience, expressed that they were very much enlightened.
“The clothing is fascinating! The athletes are wonderful! I can’t say enough about the show—we’ve enjoyed it very much,” Mrs. Hammer commented.
Mrs. Hammer leaves behind some alluring words about culture and culture’s inter-relationship to us all, and how sometimes we fail to see other cultures.
“I think it awakens your insight into China and [helps to] understand a little bit more about it,” she added. “I don’t think we understand other people’s culture as much as we should. I think that by doing something like this, we do understand other cultures.”
As the intermission comes to an end and the show begins to enter its second part, the couple prepare to enter the theater but leaves some recommending words behind.
“I’m sure [my colleagues] would enjoy it too because we are in fashion and they are showing beautiful costumes, and beautiful makeup, and beautiful culture, so I do recommend it highly,” Mrs. Hammer said.
“The way they tell the story, the way they dance, the … coordination is unbelievable—their training is very, very good,” Mrs. Hammer concluded.
Shen Yun Performing Arts was established in 2006 with the mission of reviving 5,000 years of divinely inspired Chinese culture. The company presents colorful and exhilarating performances of classical Chinese dance and music. According to its website, “a performance by Shen Yun is a presentation of traditional Chinese culture as it once was: a study in grace, wisdom, and the virtues distilled from the five millennia of Chinese civilization.”
Reporting by Valerie Avore and Paul Darin.
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
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