(Clearwisdom.net) The New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts International performed two shows in Kansas City, Missouri at the Music Hall, on March 13-14, 2010.

Mr. Dietrich, who works in marketing and finance at an engineering firm.

Kansas businessman: "Fabulous presentation"

Douglas Dietrich, a marketing and finance specialist at an engineering firm, thoroughly enjoyed the show. He said, "Well, it was a world class performance--the musicians and the live orchestra sounded so good--It was perfect! The instruments were amazing. It was a fabulous presentation."

"The vocalists were amazing, amazing, amazing singers. The strength and quality of the vocalists and the pianist and all the musicians, it was excellent!"

He added, "These dancers can dance--I have never seen such good dancers."

Mr. Dietrich appreciated the ancient Chinese stories and legends portrayed in the show, saying, "These are stories that have lasted for centuries, for thousands of years and the fact that the traditions have not been lost, is beautiful, is amazing."

He saw that the meaning behind the stories, as well as the lessons involving values, morality, and character, were universal in nature.

"It reminds me that regardless of any culture in the world, the values and the passions are really the same all across the world--throughout all cultures. It is not just in Asian culture or Chinese culture. These are universal concepts," he said.

In closing, Mr. Dietrich recommended that everyone who sees the show should, "Keep an open mind and appreciate the meaning and the commitment and discipline of the actors and respect the messages."

Associate Dean: "I love it. It is wonderful!"

Dr. Roxanne Gonzales and her husband Sandy Walker.

Dr. Roxanne Gonzales, an associate university dean and former president of the Association for Continuing Higher Education in 2009, attended the show with her husband, Sandy Walker, a retired air force officer. They came to the show hoping to learn more about authentic Chinese culture.

She said that she enjoyed the costumes that were, "...linked to the theme of the story that the dancers were trying to reveal."

"Every history is a little different, and it is always interesting to me how there is a repetitive theme throughout. A deity had created earth and has expectations for humanity.

"I thought it was very interesting, and it parallels so many other religious beliefs. There is a common theme--the way we all think we got here and we are expected to be good. I never heard that before."

"I think it is important for any culture to understand the history and the past to keeping it going," she said.

Ms. Gonzales was taken in by the beauty of Shen Yun, saying, "I love it. It is wonderful, the colors, the music. Just wonderful! I love the dance. I love the athleticism of the dancers."

She continued, "I really enjoyed the live music and the dancers with the vivid colors that bring the dancing to life. It is nice and fluid. Very graceful."

She said that she enjoyed the ancient legends and stories and was glad to see two contemporary dance sets depicting the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China.

"It was interesting to see the two modern pieces in here with what is going on in China today. I was pleased to see it there because it is a piece of reality. It is a piece of what people need to remember, that it's really happening," she said.

The couple said that they would like to share their experience of the show with their niece. "I think she would enjoy the colors, the dance, and a little bit of exposure to things--we don't get a lot of exposure to Chinese culture here," Dr. Gonzales said.

Piano Player: "It was very pure"

Jeffrey Mitchell, a pianist on his way to becoming an entrepreneur

Also among the audience was Jeffrey Mitchell, a pianist and aspiring entrepreneur. Mr. Mitchell was very impressed by the dancer's purity, noting that they "moved as one. The energy coming from all of them, it was very pure--it's like there's no bad there--so I didn't see any ego.

"No one was worried about how good I can do and how I can impress the audience. It was as if everyone was focused on helping the other."

Mr. Mitchell used a metaphor to explain his point further. "When you look at nature, the flower isn't saying to the other flower, 'I've got more petals than you.' But it's like everything is working in harmony, and they were so in harmony."

He thought that each dance performance was superb. "The flips that they did and the different spins, and the lady that was spinning on her knees, the bearing was so incredible.

"They had a lot of control, but it was very graceful. So they didn't try to force themselves to do it, but they just flowed in the moment, and it's just like water," he said.

Mr. Mitchell thought that the show was able to "break cultural barriers" and "relate to the differences in people."

"When you're able to relate to the differences you can learn about each other and you can get along with each other and you can communicate effectively with each other and have wonderful relationships that are forever. And to me I think that's incredible, and I think we all deserve that," he said.

"Out of this whole thing that I've seen tonight, I've learned that the quality is there ... when I look at other places, the quality is not there."

He hoped that Chinese people would "focus on taking care of the body and having the harmony with the physical and the spiritual and the emotional," and advised that when those things are in balance, "...you're able to do incredible things like they [Shen Yun] did tonight."

Source:
http://theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/31356/
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