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BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—Internationally acclaimed Shen Yun performed in the southern U.S. city of Birmingham on Friday night, Aug. 21, for the first of two shows at the 3,000 seat Concert Hall at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex in the heart of the city.
Mr. Killings, a government attorney, and his wife Mrs. Killings were in the audience and were very impressed with what they experienced.
“I thought the music, the choreography, the costumes, it was all just magnificent, simply magnificent,” Mr. Killings said.
Shen Yun performances are based on Chinese classical dance—an art form several millennia old. Chinese dance is refreshingly dynamic and expressive, and includes very sophisticated and precise movements.
Shen Yun takes its inspiration from 5,000 years of Chinese history and culture. Many of the dances depict ancient Chinese legends and folk dances, while some of the dances deal with issues in contemporary China. Shen Yun also features musical soloists and an orchestra that blends traditional Chinese and Western instruments. Another unique feature of Shen Yun performances are the storytelling through the performances.
“Of course, I appreciate the performance itself, but each performance seemed to have a story line, a very good story line. A lot of philosophical and sometimes biblical story line, and I really appreciate that.”
“I enjoyed the evening, I thought it was a magnificent evening, well worth my time.”
Mr. Killings said that he was sure to come again next year when the show returns.
“Actually he [the emcee] announced it, you have a show at the Kennedy Center at Washington, D.C. I have a family there; I have a sister there. I will call her and encourage her to go see it, that’s how impressed I am.”
Mrs. Killings, a receptionist with a dealership in town, thought the show was just wonderful.
“I’ve never seen anything like that before. The costumes were beautiful, the colors were so vibrant, it’s really nice,” she said, adding that she had not seen any show like Shen Yun before.
“I love the way they do things, it’s so synchronized, so together, I loved it.”
Hosted in both English and Chinese, each performance is given a brief introduction, enabling Westerners and Chinese alike to better understand the nuances of Chinese culture.
“That was good, it was something for the Chinese people, and we could understand it too, so it was good.”
Shen Yun is performing one more show in Birmingham, Ala., on Aug. 22, at the Concert Hall, Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. Then, a six-run show will be held at Washington, D.C.'s Kennedy Center Opera House from Aug. 26 to 30.
For more information please visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
