Shen Yun Jolts Childhood Memories

MILWAUKEE—Sharon Knott, a marketing consultant, was taken back 40 years when she took in the Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company’s presentation of traditional Chinese culture at the Marcus Center on March 13.

She had attended the New York-based performance with James Hamer, a financial advisor, who was dumb-struck. “It's just a different experience. I've never seen anything like this before, so it's been interesting … .”

As for Ms. Knott, she recalled when as a 6-year-old, she attended a rehearsal of Chinese dance and so was reminded when she first heard of Shen Yun's world premiere presentation.

"When I heard about this I knew I had to come … It really is truly incredible,” Ms. Knott said.

Shen Yun presents colorful and exhilarating performance of traditional Chinese culture as it once was: a study in grace, wisdom, and the virtues distilled from the five millennia of Chinese civilization, Shen Yun website explains.

“I like the way the dancers connect—they're all in sync with each other to a "T", … so that's really incredible and the costumes are out of this world.”

Classical Chinese dance has a vast training system, and is a dance form still mostly new to the West. You could say it carries the essence of Chinese cultural expression in its movements, postures, and aesthetics, the website continues.

In its early years, classical Chinese dance was passed down primarily in the imperial court and was part of ancient theater, reflected in the hundreds of colorful, intricate and exquisitely handmade costumes that manifested in an explosion of color onstage.

Reporting by Catherine Wen and Raiatea Tahana-Reese.