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TAOYUAN, Taiwan—Five sold out performances in Taoyuan reflected the approval of people who came far and wide to see the Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music.
Among the enthusiastic audience watching Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company's fifth and last show at the Taoyuan County Performing Center, on March 15, was Mr. Peng Sheng-Fu, Yang Mei City Mayor and his wife.
Mr. Peng appreciated the performance and talked about his understanding. “It mainly told us to always act with a good heart, do the right thing and help those in need. The programs convey a very clear message that bad guys will never succeed and good men will always be rewarded in heaven. I am grateful that Shen Yun gives me the chance to experience the meaning of life, and to have deep understanding.”
Shen Yun’s artistic characteristics impressed Mr. Peng deeply. “I was very touched by every piece in the program. All of the actors onstage are skillfully trained performers, as their movement and dances are superbly brilliant. The programs are a vivid presentation of the five millennia of Chinese civilization and ethnic cultures, and you do not get the chance to see such cultural essence in modern China.” Mr. Peng noted.
Mr. Peng was particularly moved by the message contained in the dance Our Story saying,
“Humankind shall never act cruelly and ruthlessly against reason and nature," he said.
The piece he is referring to tells the story of a young teacher who is arrested and persecuted for her belief in the ancient spiritual practice, Falun Gong, which is currently oppressed by the communist regime, and has been since 1999.
“There are many kinds of beliefs in the world, but a belief cannot survive without the dedicated persistence of its believers,” Mr. Peng said.
Mr. Peng said he was thankful that Shen Yun’s performance made people appreciate and treasure the present.
“I believe many people with a sense of justice, from different countries, are very supportive of Falun Gong, and for my part, I fully support Shen Yun’s performance and will come to see Shen Yun whenever possible.”
Mrs. Peng agreed with her husband, saying, “It was most magnificent, and the costumes were so beautiful. They were exquisite—powerful and soft dances matched the theme and style perfectly, she said. “For example, in the program titled Herding On the Grasslands, the horsemen galloped on the grasslands with exhilarating strength that is a wonderful balance of power and beauty.”
She said she and her husband have watched Shen Yun every year since the New York-based company began its tour there in 2007.
Sell-Out Shen Yun Shows in Taoyuan
Mr. Shen was really impressed by the performer’s solid dancing skills. He said, “I feel the dancing skills and [flexibility] of the entire group are very special, which exhibit traditional training coming from starting early and hard work–that is really solid skills,” he said.
According to the Shen Yun website, classical Chinese dance has three main components: form, bearing, and techniques.
Form refers to the hundreds of extremely intricate poses and movements that make up the vocabulary of the art form; bearing is the emphasis on the dancer’s inner expression and its connection with the movements he or she performs. Techniques include a series of very difficult moves—jumps, flips, twists, and spins that have been a part of classical Chinese dance for thousands of years, the website explains.
Mr. Shen said, “I am impressed by the dancers; both male and female dance very well. The whole performance is pleasant to the eyes and well-choreographed. Besides, every dance is unique in its own way.”
His wife, Xu Ai-Yu, vice president of a beauty college said she liked the dance, Ladies of Tang Palace.
“As a whole, their body language speaks loud and clear. When combined with costume design, it makes you think again and again.”
She continued, “I especially like the baritone. The lyrics are so good. It makes you feel that we really did come from heavens. The lyric actually contains layers of meaning.”
Among the company’s artists are members from renowned ensembles and music schools, and winners of international singing and dance competitions, the website says.
Shen Yun’s accomplished choreographers aim to present classical Chinese dance in its purest and most beautiful form.
Reporting by Yang Jia.
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
