(Clearwisdom.net)

Dancer: "Poised and graceful"

LOS ANGELES--It was an auspicious weekend--with three holidays aligning: Valentine's Day, Chinese New Year, and President's Day weekend. Such an occasion is apt for a stunning production such as Shen Yun Performing Arts, a world-class display of Chinese classical dance and music. The final show in Los Angeles for this tour brought in the Chinese New Year with a sold-out audience full of pleased and enthusiastic viewers at the Music Center's Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

One of those viewers was Kelly Parra, an accomplished dancer, who came with her family and friends.

Ms. Parra has won a number of national titles for her dancing and has trained with several renowned choreographers. She has also performed in music videos, including Usher's Pop Ya Collar.

She described the Chinese classical dance in Shen Yun as "very graceful. Poised and graceful, very connected."

"It was very easy to connect with it because they told a story," she said, on how the inner meanings of the dance came through. "It wasn't just random spontaneous movements and it was very nice they described it beforehand, so you could appreciate it."

Kelly Parra along with friends and family at the Music Center's Dorothy Chandler Pavilion

Ms. Parra also said she enjoyed the singers, "They were awesome. The last one was my favorite," referring to tenor Hong Ming. The Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company includes three vocalists and an instrumental duet, featuring a piano and an erhu, a Chinese two-stringed instrument that is played with a bow.

Her friends were also happy that they saw the show.

Mr. Ricker, a Los Angeles real estate agent, said, "It was wonderful! I liked it a lot!"

Ms. Ricker, who also works in real estate, was especially touched by the piece Astounding Conviction, which depicts a Falun Gong practitioner in China who is persecuted for his practice, but is able to go free because of his steadfast belief.

"I thought the passion in the way he defended his faith was phenomenal," said Ms. Ricker. Falun Gong is an ancient Chinese spiritual practice that has been persecuted in China for the last 10 years.

She also was taken by the music: "I thought it was beautiful," she said.

"Honorable and very warm," Says Distinguished Film Producer

Gregory Marquette, a distinguished writer, producer, and television and movie director was in the audience. His Polaris Entertainment Corporation has produced many award-winning television and film productions.

Mr. Marquette wrote and hosted "Jazz Radio Canada" for CBC Television and Radio. The documentary series is internationally acclaimed.

This was the first time he experienced New York-based Shen Yun.

"It's impressive, very impressive," Mr. Marquette said. "I always enjoy other cultures very much. And this is so colorful and full of good, spirited entertainment for families--very good.

"I mean the intention of it, in terms of the heart, of the spirit, in terms of love ... I can say honorable and very warm."

Shen Yun's stated mission is to reawaken mankind's divinely bestowed heritage through classical Chinese dance, music, and song.

"As a producer, I liked the choreography very much, enjoy the costumes, the flowing colors, and the way it's presented, it's very nicely done, and the dancers are doing an admirable job.

"Some of it is new to me ... a lot of this is new," he said. He said he had seen other cultural dance performances.

"But this is very unique, it has its own style. I think it makes me appreciate the culture more and also the depth of the culture. So I think it's very good that way."

He said that he would definitely recommend that others see the show.

"It's a very enjoyable, colorful experience, a culturally enriching one, and a lot of fun."

Sources:

http://theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/29790/

http://theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/29770/