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The Center is renowned known for its dedication to providing artistic and cultural entertainment of the highest caliber to the community.
The New York-based Shen Yun world premiere performance is a presentation of traditional Chinese culture as it once was: a study in grace, wisdom, and the virtues passed down from ancient Chinese civilization, according to its website.
Fighter pilot, and former captain of USS Kitty Hawk, Admiral Tillotson, was in the audience enjoying the evening.
"We’ve had the opportunity to make many friends from China, so this was a great opportunity for us to share this performance. Chinese history and Chinese geography, it really comes out in the performance. It’s wonderful," he said.
Each year Shen Yun has an entirely new production: costumes, songs, musical scores and at the heart is classical Chinese dance.
Mr. Tillotson’s wife Lorna, is an attorney and homemaker.
"I thought the show was absolutely fabulous,” she said. “The costumes were so enticing. I brought my two young children that were 8-years-old and they sat, truly, at the edge of their seats and were mesmerized by the beauty.
“And what I thought was so wonderfully done was that they tell the story of Chinese history in a way that not only brings in the adults, but also brought in my children."
In a collection of short pieces, audiences journey from the Himalayas to tropical regions; from the legends of the culture’s creation over 5,000 years ago through to the story of Falun Dafa in China today; from the highest heavens down to the dusty plateaus of the Middle Kingdom, says the website.
Mrs. Tillotson related to these scenes.
"The different dynasties … parts of it just came to life in front of them. From a historical perspective, it was great, re: human rights. It brought out the issues and what we fight against to this very day for people around the world.”
Shen Yun’s masterful orchestra with its original compositions uniquely combines ancient Eastern and modern Western instruments.
Mrs. Tillotson said, "Oh, the music is what first brings you into the scene. It touched every one of your senses and the backdrop was modern with the ancient music. It was really, really well done."
She said one of the things that truly stood out for her was "the storyline of hope."
“Hope for civilization, hope as we move forward and hope as our young children move forward and impact the world too.
“I thought that was so well done and that’s what we need in this world is for us all to stand linked, arm in arm, and move forward in a world that’s going to be changed and impacted in a positive way."
In closing, Mrs. Tillotson said, "I thought it was fabulous! We’ll be coming back next year."
Reporting by Flora Ge and Maria Banks.
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts will continue performing at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Orange County, May 6-8. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
