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Berlin: Shen Yun Performing Arts Is China's Cultural Heritage (Photos)

March 29, 2009 |   Compiled by Clearwisdom staff

(Clearwisdom.net) Human rights lawyer, Dr. Zander and his wife chose an elegant way to celebrate their silver wedding anniversary: they attended the Shen Yun Performing Arts performance on March 23, 2009 at the world-renowned music venue, Friedrichstadtpalast in Berlin, Germany.

Their daughter said the anniversary, marking 25 years of marriage, was the "perfect opportunity" to see the lavish show that presents China's authentic heritage, conveyed through classical Chinese dance and music.

She said, "The entire show is outstanding and should be recommended to everyone! What an amazing view into a culture, and the dance - something which we never have had the opportunity to see. I personally was most impressed with the drummers, and the music is brilliant."

Dr. Zander said, "The human rights violations are presented exceptionally well." He said that he is an avid newspaper reader, keeps abreast of human rights issues and shared his concern regarding the persecution of Falun Gong in China today.

This Legacy of Authentic Chinese Culture - This Will Survive

Amongst the appreciative audience was a high ranking official from the Kingdom of Bahrain. "Oh, it was wonderful. This is the first time I've seen the authentic and original Chinese cultural legacy. It was marvelous!" he exclaimed. "I would love to see it one more time."

However, he regretted attending the performance alone, saying that perhaps there will be another opportunity for his family to see the show, "tomorrow or the next day."

"Everything was beautiful. But, most of all I was impressed with the piece, 'Knowing the True Picture Offers Ultimate Hope,' the last scene during this performance--the finale, so to speak. The show is very impressive. It enriched my knowledge of China. I always wanted to visit China, since my childhood. But, now it is too late, as China has changed so drastically.

"I'm glad that you have maintained your cultural heritage, I would prefer to visit the original China, without communism--now, China has totally changed in respect to the industrial forms, cars, pollution and human rights."

Knowing that Shen Yun would not be allowed to perform in China today, he said, "I think this will change. Now it is banned, but in China you will still recognize that this a part of the history, a part of the cultural heritage. The people will change, but this will survive."

Chinese Classical Dance Is Connected to Faith

"I loved the entire show!" said Ms. Michaelis, a former professional dancer. Reflecting on the deeper meanings of the performances, she added, "These dances have to do with faith. In China, people [once] believed in life after death, and this was expressed quite openly through the show--also, that one will enter paradise after death."

"I liked it very much. It is very interesting to learn about this culture that is so different from ours. For me, I loved the entire show. I loved the costumes, the artistic movements of the men. It was not only dance. Absolutely wonderful!"

Quite Moving and Beautiful

Mr. Ehrich, president of a real estate firm, found Shen Yun performances "absolutely wonderful." He went on, "It was everything, including the dance, the songs. ... It was just beautiful, relaxing, comfortable and all around beautiful!"

Mr. Ehrich, president of a real estate firm, with his wife

Accompanying him was his wife who agreed, saying, "I would have to say exactly the same thing. I found the show to be wonderful, very colorful, and quite moving. I very much liked it--very much."

"The show has a tremendous effect on us!"

Mrs. Kochanenko, journalist for a Russian radio station in Berlin, attended Shen Yun Performing Arts with her children and a colleague from work. The radio station that serves the four million in Germany's Russian community, had encouraged its audience to come to watch the show, and Mrs. Kochanenko was happy to be here with her family.

Mrs. Kochanenko, journalist for a Russian radio station in Berlin, attended Shen Yun Performing Arts with her children and a colleague

"It was wonderful. The show had a tremendous effect on us, especially the children who came with us. I am glad that they experienced the show," said Mrs. Kochanenko. "Since we ourselves do not have the opportunity to travel to China, I believe that this experience can influence our daily lives. It is very interesting and has a positive effect. "

Mrs. Kochanenko said, "This 5000-year-old [Chinese] culture is very interesting and has deep roots. The dances from different regions are, of course, interesting for us, because we have never seen them, and we now know more about them."

Because she grew up in Russia under communist rule, Mrs. Kochanenko immediately related to the emotions portrayed in the contemporary dances which depict persecution. "I especially enjoyed the contemporary pieces. While they may seem simple at first, they are very expressive. They were also very well presented. One knows what is being conveyed, even without knowing the previous history."

Mrs. Kochanenko was thoroughly impressed, "The musicians were very good. We [could] recognize that the vocalists in the show are on a very high level. We are really glad that we were able to attend tonight. And despite the terrible weather here, we are in a very good mood."

Source: http://theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/14330/
http://theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/14302/