(Minghui.org) Shen Yun Performing Arts' New York Company staged seven performances showcasing the breadth of Chinese culture through the stories and legends of 5,000 years of Chinese civilization from March 28 - April 1, 2012 in Taichung City, Taiwan. Taichung is home of a very vibrant cultural scene, which adds to its international status.

Banker: Shen Yun “is a super class performance”

Mr. Wang Ming-Ren, vice president of Union Bank of Switzerland

Among the many distinguished guests of the Shen Yun show was Mr. Wang Ming-Ren, vice president of UBS (Union Bank of Switzerland).

He enthused, “Shen Yun presents the essence of Chinese culture, and it is a super class performance. It is really outstanding! ”

Mr. Wang was completely taken by Shen Yun and commented on several aspects of the show. “From the performance, I can see that they put a great deal of effort into training and rehearsal,” he said.

“As for the costumes, I think that they have showcased the exquisiteness of traditional Chinese costumes.

“Their dancing skills are also superb!

“The overall performance is very harmonious and outstanding.

“In addition to traditional dances, it also combines historical legends and folk dances. To sum up, it is the essence of Chinese culture, so I think it is incredible!”

Mr. Wang said he appreciated the effort and devotion that the performers put into promoting traditional Chinese culture. “I find it spectacular that the traditional culture that we can hardly see, due to the impact of Western culture, can be presented again. I think it is really great.”

He noted that many of the singer's lyrics touched his inner being. “Some of the lyrics of the songs sung by the tenor and the soprano are very expressive. In particular, 'What Is the Meaning of Life' deeply touched my heart.”

Mr. Wang concluded, “The performances of the Shen Yun Performing Arts are indeed high class. I think it is really worthwhile to see it.”

Legislator: 'I believe that Shen Yun will be the world’s top performing arts company'

Legislator Cai Qichang attends the Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company's performance in Taichung

Also in the audience was Taiwan Legislator Cai Qichang, who felt very positive about the quality of the Shen Yun performance. “I would like to use my own reputation to recommend Shen Yun to everyone, as it is a remarkable performing arts company. I appreciate such an artistic feast; it was very enjoyable.”

Legislator Cai Qichang, who was accompanied by his wife, said he was happy to have the opportunity to see Shen Yun’s 2012 performance in Taichung. He was full of praise for the New York-based company and its production.

“This is an amazing performing arts company. All those who have seen Shen Yun’s performance would feel the greatness of the [traditional Chinese] culture, and would be amazed by these artists’ devotion, momentum, and vitality, as well as their professionalism. I have indeed benefited a lot from it today,” he said.

Mr. Cai continued, “Shen Yun’s approach was very unique, and the stage was specially designed in which there were interactions between the backdrops and the performers. This is something that we have not seen in the past. The strength and the beauty demonstrated in the dances, coupled with the synchronization of the backdrop and the performers, was very creative and fresh.”

Mr. Cai said the overall color of the stage and performers’ costumes was “very rich and brilliant,” adding, “The design of the stage was also really marvelous. The overall visual effect was very enjoyable.

“The collocation of the costumes in the program Sleeves of Silk and the stage lighting was very eye-catching. It was indeed a visual enjoyment. … My overall feeling is one of beauty.”

Mr. Cai felt that Shen Yun showcased the richness and depth of the individual ethnic Chinese minority groups, and believed that the audience could really learn something from the experience.

“I believe that Shen Yun will be the world’s top performing arts company,” he said.

Shen Yun also highlighted contemporary China and the repression of people's faith, beliefs, and human rights occurring there today, which will inevitably become important parts of China’s history.

Scenes portraying the persecution of Falun Gong moved the audience's hearts. Falun Gong practitioners’ courage and bravery in standing up for their beliefs brought tears to many.

“Through seeing the performance, people are able to gain more insight into the belief of Falun Gong. Whether it is from the perspective of society or the artistic performance, I think this is worth being concerned about,” he said.

He concluded, “This is a fascinating performance. I would definitely recommend it to others.”

Company chairman: Shen Yun ‘brightens my life’

Mr. Ching-Cheng Ku, past governor (2005-2006) of Rotary International District 3460, attends Shen Yun Performing Arts in Taichung.

Mr. Ching-Cheng Ku, chairman of Hygienically Latex Glove Supply Company and past governor (2005-2006) of Rotary International District 3460, also attended the show accompanied by his wife.

He was full of praise, saying, “It’s really great and wonderful. It has broadened my horizons! Coming here tonight has brightened my life!”

Ching-Cheng Ku, who has seen Shen Yun for the past two years, enthused, “It’s very wonderful. Many programs are ones that I have not seen in Taiwan. Everything is really great, whether it’s the dances, choreography, or the synchronization between the backdrops and performers on stage.”

Being a singing instructor and serving as a judge for singing contests in his spare time, Mr. Ku highly praised the two tenors. He said, “Their performances were fabulous, and their voices were very vigorous, and could reach an extremely high pitch in the treble part. It’s really fantastic!”

He also loved the bright, colorful costumes, exclaiming, “Wow! Very beautiful! The costumes were very special and well harmonized with the stories. Each program also has a good story. The colors were very bright and looked very brilliant.”

When asked to comment on the two-stringed erhu performance, also known as the Chinese violin, he suddenly said, “Wow! This erhu artist, I almost forgot to mention her. She was really great! The notes she played were very touching and my heart was totally carried away! I was seemingly ushered into another realm. … It’s really hard to find such an excellent erhu performer.”

Ching-Cheng Ku said that he had encouraged many of his fellow Rotary Club members to see the performance two years ago.

“It’s really great! Marvelous! It expanded my horizons!”

Mr. Ku’s wife, said that Shen Yun “was indeed overwhelming,” adding, “Coming here tonight also seems to make me feel like my life has become more colorful and bright!”

Businessmen and officials from China travel to Taichung to see Shen Yun

Shen Yun Performing Arts' reputation has spread into China, Hong Kong, and Macao by word of mouth. More and more people from China and Hong Kong are joining tour groups to Taiwan just to watch a Shen Yun performance.

A master musician commented that although many people in China have tried to imitate the Shen Yun Orchestra and perform with both Eastern and Western musical instruments, “None of them make it work; they are all just trying to copy Shen Yun.”

A businessman from China, who came to Taiwan especially to watch Shen Yun, said that he met a group of high ranking provincial officials who entered the theater in a very low-key manner and stayed for the entire performance.

A Chinese official who was visibly moved after watching the show said that the group of officials who he traveled with were warned by their superiors before coming to Taiwan. They were told that they would be punished after their return if they accepted media interviews and that they would never again be given a visa to travel. Thus, several Chinese officials refused to be interviewed.

Another Chinese person exclaimed after seeing the show, “The essence of traditional Chinese culture can only be seen in Shen Yun!”

Sources:
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/shen-yun-on-tour/banker-shen-yun-presents-the-essence-of-chinese-culture-214041.html
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/shen-yun-on-tour/legislator-shen-yun-showcases-the-breadth-of-chinese-culture-214645.html
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/shen-yun-on-tour/company-chairman-shen-yun-brightens-my-life-214627.html
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/shen-yun-on-tour/officials-and-businessmen-from-china-travel-to-taichung-to-see-shen-yun-214068.html