Shen Yun Performing Arts dazzled audiences in Knoxville, Tennessee, on Feb. 14 and 15. Shen Yun’s mission is to revive 5,000 years of traditional culture from China before communism, through classical Chinese dance and music.
Josh Leo, a Grammy-nominated musician and producer, said, “I was inspired all performance, the whole performance. I don’t know what I can say that would make it any better, the show was just top notch all the way.”
Imelda Smith, an accountant, said, “It’s good to see the cultural dances way back and tell the history and story of the country itself. It’s really eye-opening to me, because I never thought that China would be like that, but it has a wonderful story.”
Sam Creasman, a retired captain with the U.S. Army, said, “It is a new perspective, and it makes me appreciate the Chinese culture more than I did before, because communism has done so much to erase it.”
“I think it really showed the struggles that some people have in China and that there’s hope in the future. So I think it was good,” said John Roemisch, a vice president of a robotics supply company. “I think there’s hope because the show really exemplifies the hope in the Chinese people for the future and all people.”
Based in New York, Shen Yun simultaneously tours the world with eight different companies, all dedicated to bringing ancient values to life on stage. Shen Yun’s orchestra is also the first in the world to combine classical Western and Eastern instruments.
Mr. Leo said, “It’s the first time I’ve ever heard it combined, and I thought it was fantastic. I would like to see it again, and I’d like to study it to find out how maybe I can incorporate some of that into other music forms. It would be great.”
“The music was phenomenal, especially the piano player. I could not believe how professional she was. She was incredible, both of them. So I enjoyed the music very much,” said Mark Smith, a former senior program manager.
“I also want to say that I really enjoyed the orchestra and I enjoyed all the performances that everybody did, the singing, the piano playing,” said Mr. Leo. “And I want to also point out that the woman, the last singer, operatic style singer, was phenomenal. Phenomenal. Her pitch and intonation was perfect. It really was perfect. It was great.”
Drawing inspiration from China’s rich cultural heritage, each performance presents themes of spirituality, faith, and kindness, values found at the heart of traditional Chinese culture.
Mr. Roemisch said, “It impressed me because I didn’t realize that the show was about the Creator, and the beautiful things that we can do with our life, and how really that inspiration can allow you to overcome great adversarial things in our lives.”
Marty Everett, a retired master sergeant with the U.S. Air Force, said, “It inspires me because the cast and the performance, the purpose is to share the traditions and their desire to bring those traditions back. And I’m inspired by their faith and dedication and the hard work that they put into it.”
“It’s ... very spiritual. It’s got a spiritual depth to it,” said Mr. Leo. “I’ll probably go out and tell all my friends and everybody, you got to come see the show. It’s going to speak to you not just visually, but in your soul as well.”
Shen Yun will be in Charlotte, North Carolina, from Feb. 20 to the 22.
NTD News, Knoxville, Tennessee
NTD is a media sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts, covering audience reactions since 2006.
