SEARCH
COLUMBUS, Ohio—”I thought it was awesome!” exclaimed Aaineb Alani, author and instructional designer. She had just attended the Thursday evening presentation of Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company as it graced the stage of the Ohio Theatre.
No other art form in the world boasts such strong expressive qualities and diversity of techniques as classical Chinese dance.
Ms. Alani was thoroughly impressed with the New York-based company and said, “Traditional Chinese dance … It was just awesome! The synchronization, the music, the animation is just out of this world.”
The daughter of diplomats, Ms. Alani appreciated seeing classical Chinese culture as presented by Shen Yun. “I am of Iraqi origin, I spent my early childhood in China. So this is just awesome.”
In a collection of short story-based performances, Shen Yun takes audiences on a journey; from legends of the culture’s creation over 5,000 years ago through the story of Falun Dafa in China today.
Ms. Alani was moved by the performances that touch upon the plight of the Falun Gong and said, “I sincerely appreciate that because we as Iraquis were under tyrannical rule for the longest time.”
“I was most impressed with the opening scene and the divine bodies coming from out of the sky and onto earth. I think I almost saw the imperial palace in the background and it was just beautiful-breathtaking!”
Ms. Alani expressed her appreciation by using a Chinese phrase, and said, “There are a lot of messages, a lot of moral values, right versus wrong, the messages that were written by the teacher of tolerance, compassion and mercy. It is all embedded in there. I think that truth is the main message. I loved it!”
Zaineb Alani was born in North Africa, to Iraqi diplomats, and grew up in China, and later East Africa, Tanzania. In 1994, she moved to Jordan to teach at Jordan University. She accepted a Fulbright scholarship in 1996 to complete a graduate degree in Education at Ohio State University. Ms. Alani published a poetry anthology in 2007 by the title, The Words of An Iraqi War Survivor & More. She currently resides in Columbus, Ohio, where she works as an instructional designer and consultant for local companies.
Reporting by Kerry Huang and Jeanmarie Lunsford.
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
