(Minghui.org) The world renowned Shen Yun Performing Arts delivered two outstanding performances at the San Diego Civic Theatre on December 26-27, 2012. The show captured the hearts of audience members, filling their souls with life-long memories.
“Blown Away” By Shen Yun, Says Watercolor Artist
Susan King Golden and Cathy Golden with Shumei at Shen Yun Performing Arts in San Diego.
One audience member, Cathy Golden, a watercolor artist, described the Shen Yun performance as “very unique,” adding, “...beautiful costumes; I’ve never seen anything like it.”
The array of colors and other fine details in the show caught the artist’s trained eye. “It just was so delicate, and so pretty,” she said, “just every little detail.”
Ms. Golden’s 12-year-daughter, Shumei, also enjoyed the performance. “I really liked it!” she said. Shumei, who was adopted from China when she was one year old, thought the show was “...really sparkly and the dance was really cool.”
In describing her overall impression of the performance, Ms. Golden said that it was well worth seeing, and would be worth seeing again, adding that she was “very blown away.”
“It’s fantastic, there’s so much to see,” she enthused. “You can see it again and again, and see different things.”
Shen Yun Is “Magnificent” Says Retired US Ambassador
Retired US Ambassador Sean McArdle and his daughter, Nancy, enjoyed their evening at Shen Yun Performing Arts in San Diego, on Dec. 27.
Also in the audience was retired US Ambassador Sean McArdle, who suggested that people come to the show and “very definitely take a look.”
The former ambassador said during intermission that Shen Yun is “very different … magnificent, and we’re waiting for the other half.”
McArdle, who is currently living in San Diego, has served as ambassador to countries in South America, Europe, and Africa.
He said that the show is a great way to introduce people to Chinese culture. “You’re definitely getting a good view of different cultures that most Americans don’t know about. It’s a good way to introduce yourself to a different culture.”
Mr. McArdle was accompanied by his daughter, Nancy. “I think it’s wonderful. I love all the costumes and the dancing, and the energy that all the dancers are creating on stage. It’s really magnificent, and it’s something different. It’s great. It’s fabulous,” she excitedly exclaimed.
She continued, “I like how they come out and tell you a little bit of history about each dance. It’s amazing. It’s really wonderful; it’s a lot of fun.”
The former ambassador brought The American Ballet Theatre to another country to introduce American culture, so he is very familiar with how live performances work. He said he found the Shen Yun’s cast “very interesting because they don’t have much time to change costumes. They have to be really quick.”
Shen Yun Dancers “Move As Though They Were Floating,” Says Foundation President
Bob Moffitt and Judy Moffitt at Shen Yun Performing Arts in San Diego.
Another distinguished guest at the show was Bob Moffitt, president of the Harvest Foundation. “It’s just amazing to see how the human body can move so flawlessly and gracefully, with ease,” he said. “I mean, these guys, the men and women, move as though they were floating.”
He continued, “The women are just incredibly graceful, with the men being more athletic. “It’s just wonderful to watch, it’s inspiring.”
Mr. Moffitt appreciated the show's rich culture and the several dances depicting the Chinese Communist Party's 13-year suppression of the meditation practice, Falun Gong.
“I like seeing that, because it gave me a sense of, ‘okay, there’s some honesty here,’” he said. “I appreciate it.”
Judy, Mr. Moffitt’s wife, also enjoyed the performance. She was full of praise for the female dancers, especially noting their grace, “and also the flowing garments that they’re wearing, and the coordination, the synchronization.”
Shen Yun “Well Put Together,” Says Actor
Film, TV, and commercial actor Todd Conant said he would recommend Shen Yun to his friends.
Todd Conant, a film, TV, and commercial actor said that he was thoroughly impressed with Shen Yun.
“The dancing is good, and it’s well put together; it’s a good program,” he said.
Mr. Conant went on to explain: “The choreography is wonderful. The outfits the women are wearing are fantastic—very, very colorful—very bright colors. I’m partially colorblind, so I love color because colors like the yellows and the reds really stand out to me. They’re very beautiful. Lots of gold, and the background is very well put together.”
The actor said that he will tell his friends about Shen Yun. “I’d say you got to go look at these techniques; see what they’re doing.”
“Very Beautiful and Artistic”
Dr. Mark Murphy with Imee Matias enjoyed Shen Yun Performing Arts on Dec. 26 at the San Diego Civic Theatre.
Dr. Mark Murphy, an orthopedic surgeon at the San Diego VA hospital, came to see Shen Yun with nurse Imee Matias. This was Dr. Murphy's first experience with classical Chinese dance.
“It is very, very beautiful and artistic, and it brings out the liveliness of the human spirit,” he said.
“We’re all born to be free, and we can express that freedom in many different ways. So I think the expression of freedom through dance is one of the most dynamic ways to express that freedom of the spirit, and it’s very, very beautiful. Not only the historical movements of Chinese martial arts, but also the elements of the dance incorporated into it. That’s been very, very impressive. I just go ‘Wow!’” he exclaimed.
Ms. Matias agreed, saying, “The colors of the costumes and the choreography are just excellent.”
Dr. Murphy concluded by saying that “...anybody who has an appreciation for beauty needs to come and watch Shen Yun.”
“Divinity Behind” Shen Yun Says Veteran Physician
Rosamaria Durazo and Francisco Varela at the Shen Yun Performing Arts performance at the San Diego Civic Theatre, on Dec. 27.
Also in the audience were veteran UCLA physician, Rosamaria Durazo, and her husband, foundry owner, Francisco Varela.
Recognizing that China’s rich cultural heritage was almost completely destroyed during the Cultural Revolution, Ms. Durazo said that the richness and diversity of the Chinese culture is steadily diminishing.
“Especially in the cities, everything gets mesh-mashed into one. And it’s a little bit sad to think that that diversity and the culture and the music and the dance and the divinity behind it, which is the real, true thing that it represents—where we all came from; where are we all going—I think a lot of that is being lost in the world of today, and that’s a little sad,” she said.
That is why Ms. Durazo wholeheartedly supports Shen Yun’s effort to restore traditional culture.
“I think it’s fantastic,” she said, “And I’m so glad to know that there [are] three [Shen Yun] companies going all over the world because I think it’s very important that you put it out—especially for the Tibetans and many folks like them—that have unfortunately gone through what they have gone through.”
Mr. Varela said that the whole Shen Yun experience, including the many aspects of Chinese culture, were all new to him.
“Pretty much everything. Everything was new to me.” He added that the dances were “very inspiring, and truly beautiful.”
Noting that they are both from Mexico, Mr. Varela said it’s a pleasure to be exposed to Chinese culture through Shen Yun.
“You Can’t Hear Their Steps”
Besides the deeper, spiritual aspects of Chinese culture, Ms. Durazo also appreciated Shen Yun’s costumes and dancers.
When asked about the costumes, she excitedly explained, “Oh, beautiful, beautiful! Even the lady (emcee) who came out to present, the two dresses she wore were spectacular. And then the costumes were just fantastic. Fantastic.”
She shared her thoughts on the dancers: “Like I was telling my husband, they’re flipping, they’re dancing, they’re jumping, they’re everything, and you can’t hear anything. It’s quiet, they’re like flowing in water and air and the music; and you can’t hear the steps. Even though they’re just [moving] continuously–you can’t hear their steps.”
Sources:
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/shen-yun-on-tour/watercolor-artist-blown-away-by-shen-yun-329339.html
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/shen-yun-on-tour/retired-us-ambassador-says-of-shen-yun-definitely-take-a-look-329348.html
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/shen-yun-on-tour/foundation-president-shen-yun-dancers-move-as-though-they-were-floating-329344.html
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/shen-yun-on-tour/actor-shen-yun-well-put-together-329075.html
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/shen-yun-on-tour/veteran-physician-loves-divinity-behind-shen-yun-329434.html
Category: Shen Yun Performing Arts
