(Clearwisdom.net) The New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts Company received a warm and enthusiastic welcome at the San Francisco War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco, California, on July 23-25, 2010.

Director of Cultural Affairs for the San Francisco Arts Commission Luis Cancel and Director of Programs Jill Manton attend the Shen Yun Performing Arts show.

"This Show is Great for the City and Great for California!"

Mr. Luis Cancel, Director of Cultural Affairs for the San Francisco's Arts Commission, attended the Shen Yun show accompanied by Ms. Jill Manton, the Director of Programs. This was Mr. Cancel's first time seeing the show.

"I'm very impressed with the scale of the production. It's just amazing--the skills of the dancers, and it really is fascinating for me to see them performing and singing. It's been great--a great evening so far," said Mr. Cancel.

As the city's art director, Mr. Cancel said that he was learning about the different histories and myths behind Chinese culture.

"That was a very interesting sort of revelation for me," he said, adding, "Seeing some of the different ethnic dances from different regions of China also is a revelation. I think [the show] is great for the city and great for California!"

Ms. Jill Manton, also with the Arts Commission, wholeheartedly agreed with Mr. Cancel.

"It's fantastic--it's very, very beautiful. I'm so impressed with the level of skill and the colors and the costumes and how they are so able to adeptly represent each region through their dance.

"It's really amazing. I keep thinking it's a different group of dancers every time but it's the same dancers. So it's really wonderful," she excitedly enthused.

Retired Police Captain: " I Can't Imagine Why They Wouldn't Allow Dance of This Sort In China"

Richard Calderon, retired police captain of the San Jose Police Department.

Also attending the show was Mr. Richard Calderon, retired police captain of the San Jose Police Department.

When Mr. Calderon was asked whether he thought Shen Yun could raise the moral standard of a society, thus making it safer, he replied, "Yeah, I can't imagine dancing or any part of the show would hurt anybody--I can't imagine why they wouldn't allow dance of this sort in China--I think it would be a wonderful thing."

He continued, "The show is wonderful. My daughter, since she was three years old, began to dance--ballet, tap dance. And now she teaches ballet and tap dance so I've always appreciated the flow, the grace, the agility, and the athleticism of dancers--and here, they were wonderful. You could see as they jump in the air, how high they get--it was just beautiful. The artistic choreography was wonderful. I enjoyed it, very much."

Mr. Calderon also appreciated the different dances featuring different ethnic groups.

"They brought [to life] the different types of dance and also the costumes from regions of China. For me, that's always enjoyable. The Miao, from the southwest portion of China--I enjoyed that, to see that.

"I also liked the way they were able to bring together the screen with the show. It was wonderful. The choreography was wonderfully blended. I've never seen something like that where they're actually able to bring in the screen--the combining of the two--it was well-done."

Mr. Calderon particularly liked the story-based performance, "Splitting the Mountain," saying, "Oh, it was wonderful!"

When asked how he would describe the show to his friends, Mr. Calderon replied, "I'm going to tell them it's wonderful--it's beautiful. It's wonderful--the artistry, the colors--all just wonderful.

"Beautifully choreographed--the dancers are very athletic. It sounds to me that all of the dancers are here from the United States, which is wonderful."

"Before I came I thought they might be from China. They're from here. So these are homegrown dancers--that's wonderful. I'll also refer some of the people here to learn dance and maintain that. That's wonderful," concluded Mr. Calderon.

College President: "The Dance Is Spectacular, Very Athletic, and Beautiful"

Mr. Nilsen has a impressive background in the music and digital media.

Also attending the Shen Yun show were Spencer Nilsen, the president and creative director of Ex'pression College, and his wife, Claire.

Mr. Nilsen has a impressive background in the music and digital media, having produced and directed many TV shows, commercials and music videos for ESPN, Turner Broadcasting, The Super Bowl, and American Express.

When asked about the display of classical Chinese dance and music, Mr. Nilsen replied: "Oh, it's beautiful. Wonderful music and the costumes are incredible. The dance is spectacular, very athletic and beautiful."

He also enjoyed the cultural aspect of the show, along with the storytelling.

"First of all, the culture is so extraordinary in the storytelling--it's fantastic through the use of dance and music and choreography," he said.

"I'm always interested in new art forms and new music, and this seems to be a wonderful combination of both," and, "I'm interested in all art forms--this in particular--just the combination of the different music and dance.

"Having only been exposed to Western ballet and dance and orchestration, it's a different approach," said Mr. Nilsen, referring to the Shen Yun New York Company orchestra.

In offering his comments on the backdrop and stage props used by Shen Yun, Mr. Nilsen said, "I think it's fascinating. The colors are very vibrant and obviously sets the location for each of the scenes.

"I like the use of the props and things like that in storytelling, and in the suspension of disbelief that they use in telling the stories."

In explaining the term, "suspension of disbelief," with respect to Shen Yun, Mr. Nilsen said, "It's almost like a film, where once the lights go down, and the music comes up, and the action begins then you're taken into a--you basically let your imagination go and accept the story that's being told and not trying to find fault in it or have it make sense in a modern way."

"I loved the Tibetan Himalayas section--I thought it was fascinating. I love the use of the sleeves," Mr. Nilsen said of the story-based dance set, "Tibetan Dance of Praise."

Sources:

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/39722/
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/39726/
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/39733/

Category: Shen Yun Performing Arts