LOS ANGELES—Joelle Dumas, founder and director of Ecole Claire Fontaine, a private, bilingual school for children in Venice, Calif., was delighted after watching a sold out matinee showing of Shen Yun Performing Arts on Feb. 26 at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.
“The show is magnificent—the colors, the performers, the precision—but overall, what I appreciated the most was the feelings of harmony and happiness emanating from the group of dancers.”
This was the first time Mrs. Dumas watched Shen Yun, and she said she was excited before leaving for the event because she had heard wonderful reviews about it.
While strolling around outside the venue, she was struck by its grandiosity as well as the idyllic scene: “Perfect weather, people were joining in—complete families, happy children—smiles everywhere.”
New York-based Shen Yun, the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company, is composed of three companies that travel to 100 cities worldwide each year with an all-new production. Almost midway through its 2013 season, Shen Yun has performed in North America, South America, and Australia, and will soon travel to Europe and Asia.
Shen Yun brings 5,000 years of China’s divinely inspired culture to each audience through a collection of historical and cultural pieces from China’s past and present. Dancers moving in unison and wearing brilliant costumes portray myths and legends like the Yellow Emperor heralding a new era in Chinese civilization.
One unique aspect of Chinese dance that Mrs. Dumas identified is the bearing, or inner feelings, of the dancers. According to the company website, “bearing emphasizes internal spirit, breath, intent, personal aura, and deep emotional expression. The movements along with bearing give Chinese dance an incredibly expressive and vast creative potential.”
After watching Shen Yun, Mrs. Dumas said she admired how the same dancers were performing in multiple pieces throughout the performance. She also noticed that the performers were both humble and proud.
“I admired the perfection of the execution. They were humble and proud at the same time, always smiling,” she said.
She said the performance was extremely inspiring and that she felt united with others because she saw people of various ages and ethnic backgrounds in the audience.
“It was an unforgettable show and a wonderful life lesson,” she said. She added that Shen Yun inspires her to be courageous.
Reporting by Mandy Huang and Albert Roman.
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
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