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“It was really interesting,” said Cadet Lieutenant Andrew Wei, a senior student at the academy. “I like the ethnic diversity they had, all the different ethnic groups in the show.”
Based in New York, Shen Yun Performing Arts has set out to revive China’s ancient culture, and pulls from the country’s 5,000 years of history.
Each dancer is trained in classical Chinese dance—which includes a vast array of movements ranging from gentle hand gestures to soaring flips and turns—as well as in the arts of Chinese ethnic and folk dance.
The performance received a warm welcome from the audience at West Point, with calls for an encore during the show, and with standing ovations as the curtains closed.
“It shows ethnic diversity,” Lt. Wei said, adding that it has “a lot about Chinese culture, especially [for] people who are interested in it. It was really a great show.”
'It's like nothing I've ever seen before'
Shen Yun Performing Arts features dances, vocal soloists, and stories from across China’s various cultures. Each dance includes a kaleidoscope of colorful costumes, both elegant and unique, that pull their inspiration from across China’s history.
“It showed us Chinese culture and the beautiful colors; and the singing, it was just gorgeous,” Mr. Dobbert said.
Mr. Dobbert’s daughter, Kelly Vellano, a licensure specialist, said, “It was just amazing; the colors and the beauty and the culture that you get to experience, it’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before.”
Ms. Vellano said she was particularly moved by the show’s music. Shen Yun Performing Arts is accompanied by a unique, full orchestra that combines both Western and Chinese instruments.
“The music was breathtaking. It’s hard to explain in words. It was quite the experience,” Ms. Vellano said.
Mr. Dobbert’s wife, Mary, a home daycare provider, added, “It was wonderful, amazing, incredible. There’s just no words to describe it.”
For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
