ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—Author and psychologist Michelle Elliott was impressed with Shen Yun’s performance at the Mahaffey Theater, April 27. “I think it’s incredible and colorful, very vibrant. It really is exciting,” she said.
Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company, one of New York-based Shen Yun’s three touring companies, performed to a full house at both of the Saturday performances.
Ms. Elliott has authored books for parents and children on various subjects, including bullying, and founded a child-protection charity. She has been honored with an Order of the British Empire for her services to children while in the U.K.
One of the elements in the performance that stood out for Ms. Elliott was the use of colors in the hundreds of handmade costumes, as well as in the animated backdrops and the stage props.
“The colors are wonderful! They’re very vibrant. You feel like you are up there on the stage with them,” she said. “I love all the oranges and the reds, the different colors, particularly the ladies’ costumes.”
She also remarked on the Shen Yun Orchestra, which combines classical Western instruments with traditional Chinese instruments. She said the music is very peaceful and helps you relax.
Shen Yun aims to revive China’s divinely inspired culture and share it with the world, according to its website. “Through the universal language of music and dance, Shen Yun weaves a wondrous tapestry of heavenly realms, ancient legends, and modern heroic tales, taking you on a journey through 5,000 years of Chinese culture,” the website states.
Through the performance, Ms. Elliott said she learned about China’s long history and some of its different ethnicities. She appreciated the traditional values that Shen Yun brings to the stage through story-based dances and song.
She liked how the village all came together to help when an ogre kidnapped a young girl in Sand Monk Is Blessed, a tale from the Chinese classic Journey to the West.
She said she especially liked the dance An Unexpected Encounter. It tells the story of tourists who come across a scene depicting the Chinese communist regime’s ongoing persecution of Falun Gong, a peaceful spiritual practice.
“We have been to China, and I thought it was really good that they put in some of what is currently happening in China, so it isn’t just a fairy tale. It gives some reality,” Ms. Elliott said.
Reporting by Teresa Liu
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time. We have proudly covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.
