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AUGUSTA, Ga.—Shen Yun Performing Arts, an international arts group presenting traditional Chinese dance and music, performed for the first time in Augusta, Ga. at the William B. Bell auditorium, March 13.
Brenda Durant, executive director for the Greater Augusta Arts Council, attended the show, and was immediately struck by what she saw.
"I watched the opening scene, and thought 'If it's going to be in Augusta tomorrow night, I will come back a second night and watch it again.' It was beautiful.
"I love the stories that are being told, I like the interaction of the video [digital background], and the people coming to life from the backdrop. The costumes are beautiful, and just the physicalness of the dance, and the perfection of the angles of the ankles and the arms, is really beautiful.
"I loved the production. I love every aspect of it. Each piece works together so perfectly: from the dancers to the backdrop, to telling the stories. It's just beautiful," she said.
Showgoers were responsive to the pageantry on stage, often applauding during dance and musical performances. An occasional exclamation of joy could be heard during the show's poignant moments.
Ms. Durant continued: "I have never seen Chinese dance done this way in such a big production, and so many parts of China coming together, with the 5,000-year-old history coming to life on stage—it's just something I've never seen before. It's really divine.
"I don't think I've ever seen anything like this in my life."
The Greater Augusta Arts Council's mission is to advance the arts in the Augusta and Central Savannah River region of the state of Georgia, and thus enrich the quality of life for it's citizens.
Some citizens openly expressed pride that the Shen Yun Performing Arts company, which travels the world, had chosen Augusta as a venue.
Ms. Durant echoed these sentiments in a few comments she made at a reception held after the inaugural show.
"On behalf of the city of Augusta and all the sponsors, I am so excited to say 'Thank You' so much to Divine Performing Arts for coming to the city of Augusta.
"This was absolutely the most majestic show we have seen in Augusta."
Ms. Durant welcomed the return of Shen Yun Performing Arts in 2010, and encouraged people to go and see this exquisite performance.
"I think it's just a beautiful show. Really, you could watch it and just enjoy the dance, or you could come and watch just the costumes, or you could come and learn lessons from it.
"It's just a really beautiful thing."
Shen Yun Performing Arts performs next in Huntsville, Ala. March 15–16, followed by a trip to Tulsa, Okla. March 18. Other companies are performing simultaneously in Asia and Europe, with shows in Kaohsiung, Taiwan March 13–17, and stops in Oslo, Norway March 14, and Stockholm, Sweden March 18.
Jim Fogarty contributed to this article.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of the Shen Yun Performing Arts 2009 World Tour. For more information, please visit shenyunperformingarts.org
