(Clearwisdom.net) One of the charms of the Chinese New Year Splendor lies in its ability to appeal to a broad range of people regardless of their ethnic, social and educational background, as each person takes away something different and remarkable from the exquisite performance.
Frederick Hopkins, a retired postal worker, arrived with a group of 20 people from the Central Harlem Senior Citizens Center. Although still immersed in the dazzle and grandeur of the Splendor, he readily shared his feelings, "The show is fabulous because everything is so real and natural. The scenery was very exciting, and the music was wonderful!"
Doug Bowen, Jr., a retired computer consultant, called the show "very spectacular...educational, inspirational, and spiritual." He marveled at the drummers' ability to dance and play the drums at the same time, which was "fantastic and unforgettable." He loved the Mongolian dance because the costumes fit perfectly with the emerald prairie and blue sky in the background, which according to him was "beautiful and profoundly moving."
His wife Nancy Bowen, a retired senior systems analyst said, "I was spiritually uplifted and very deeply moved. The message was so beautiful--Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance. I got that beautiful message...I'm sorry this was the second to the last performance because I would like to see it again."
Heather, a healer, said she counted 65 performers on stage at one time, and "all of them were so soft and beautiful." From the Splendor, she perceived "the desire to present the traditions and culture of China, especially since in the last 100 years, their culture experienced so much stripping away...they are just showing it beautifully, and I really respect Chinese culture and history."
Michael Flaherty, a fire safety director in New York, said he enjoyed the variety of cultures presented in the show, "Korean, Mongolian and Chinese, all of them together, it makes this performance [stand out from the others]."
Michael called the Splendor "fascinating." "[Chinese culture] goes back so many years, it is kept alive and re-performed every year, so there's always something new and innovative to show everyone." He was touched by "how people would persevere under persecution and overcome their problems, and also how people would dedicate so much time and energy to practicing and perfecting their art. [The Splendor] has an intangible quality to it, something that reaches you spiritually and visually through the colors of the costumes and backdrops, movements and emotions; it beautifully tells the story even without words."
Halcyon, a supervisor working for the New York City, government returned for the second time after watching last year's performance. She and her husband enjoyed it "immensely" and said the dances were "superb." She also loved the vibrant and realistic backdrop in the dances, "Lady of the Moon" and "Fruits of Goodness."
John Fredericks, a former modern, African and ballet dancer from Brooklyn, New York appreciated the "gracefulness [exhibited in the programs]... Acrobatics are more incorporated into Chinese dance, which is different from ballet. I didn't know [many techniques] in gymnastics came from classical Chinese dance."
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Category: Shen Yun Performing Arts
