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WASHINGTON—The world-renowned New York based Shen Yun Performing Arts Company returned to Washington, D.C. to grace the Opera House at the Kennedy Center on Tuesday evening.
Among the audience of the first VIP show were the new president of University of District of Columbia and his wife.
“I think the performance is strong. I found the dance to be really compelling. The story lines were interesting, sometimes fun—everything was graceful,” said Dr. Allen Sessoms after seeing the show.
Dr. Sessoms was previously the president of Delaware State University and president of Queens College in New York City. He received a bachelor degree from Union College, a master from University of Washington, and a doctorate from Yale University—all in physics.
The enthusiastic crowd of this New York-based Chinese premier dance and music company drew two of the Shen Yun vocalists to sing encores. Dr. Sessoms found the bel canto singers powerful.
“I think the singing, a little overpowering, but pretty expressive, in fact really extraordinary. They didn’t have to use microphones. I think the voices were incredible, really very expressive. It was a pretty strong performance,” said Dr. Sessoms.
The classical Chinese dance, ethnic dances, live orchestra, and the storylines presented featured episodes of China’s five-millennia-old history, something Dr. Sessoms called “quite compelling.”
“I think the diversity stood out. There were a lot of different types of dancing. That’s something you don’t normally see,” he said.
His wife appreciated the show in a slightly different way.
“I enjoyed it visually,” she said. “I liked the use of fabrics, to bring along the creation, the illusion of different sorts of mediums. I thought it was beautiful; it was wonderful."
She particularly enjoyed Nymphs of the Sea, where water fairies used their long, wavy fans to create flowing ripples.
“I like the use of the silk to create water. The dance and movement was very graceful,” she said.
A six show run will be held at Washington D.C.'s Kennedy Center Opera House from August 26 to 30.
NTDTV, a media partner of The Epoch Times, contributed to this article.
For more information please visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
