Retired Documentary Filmmaker: Shen Yun "Speaks To Modern Audiences" (Photos)

(Clearwisdom.net) The Shen Yun Performing Arts Company staged five magnificent shows at the Music Center's Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, in Los Angles, California, on July 8-11, 2010.

Retired Documentary Filmmaker: Shen Yun "Speaks To Modern Audiences"

Mr. Aguirre, a former consul-general of Ecuador, with his wife Halla Linker Aguirre, a retired documentary filmmaker and former consul-general of Iceland. 

In the audience was Halla Linker Aguirre, a retired documentary filmmaker and former consul-general of Iceland. She attended the show with her husband, Mr. Aguirre, a former consul-general of Ecuador.

Mrs. Aguirre described Shen Yun's depiction of Chinese history as "very enlightening."

"I thought it was fabulous, absolutely fabulous, so much talent on the stage and obviously behind the scenes, with the background and the costumes, and the choreography--all of it combined, makes a fantastic spectacle," she said.

Discussing the contents of the show on a deeper cultural and spiritual level, Mrs. Aguirre explained, "I think it's very enlightening and very much delves into Chinese culture, yet at the same time, it speaks to modern audiences.

"I just thought it was so fabulous it should be all over the world."

Mr. Aguirre agreed with his wife. "I loved it--it's very colorful, very meaningful, the costumes are fantastic, the synchronization was perfect.

"I suppose it requires lots of discipline, lots of rehearsal training, and a community of thinking. So overall, it's a beautiful, impressive show, with a beautiful message."

He continued, "The beautiful meaning is that at the end, all efforts, all sufferings have a good result through persistence and luck. So the end is always good and the means are worth going through in order to achieve spiritual peace and happiness.

"We are so happy, so pleased. ... And we recommend, of course, that everyone see it. It should be seen by the whole world," Mr. Aguirre concluded.

Renowned Airplane Designer "Amazed" By Shen Yun

Melvin Salvay, an internationally known and respected airplane designer, was genuinely impressed by the show.

"I'm an airplane designer," said Mr. Salvay, who, helped to build several famous fighter planes, including the B1 Bomber, "so I love creativity. I couldn't get over how magnificent the whole production was--the scenery, the backdrops, the costumes, and the dance routine.

"In other words, I happen to be an engineer, so when I watched what was going on, I couldn't get over how well the whole production was put together."

Describing the effect of the digitalized background screen, Mr. Salvay said, "The thought that went into all those performances--I couldn't get over the fact that in one of those scenes where it showed people walking in the background then all of a sudden they walk up from behind the stage. They were coming here, and then all of a sudden they appeared on stage."

He continued, "The dancers were outstanding. I've never seen dancers this outstanding."

Mr. Salvoy shared his thoughts about Shen Yun's live orchestra, which combines both Eastern and classical Western instruments.

"I love the music, the rhythm of the music. ... I've gone to opera and ballet all over the world, and I LOVED the rhythm of the music tonight--just absolutely."

In conclusion, Mr. Salvay enthused, "I was amazed."

Doctor of Sociolinguistics: "Absolutely Stunning"

Dr. Humber has a Ph.D. in sociolinguistics and is a professor at Cal Poly Pomona University in the department of ethnic and women's studies.

Dr. Toni-Mokjaetji Humber, a Sociolinguistics professor at Cal Poly Pomona University in the department of ethnic and women's studies, thought the show was "fabulous!"

"Actually, it was stunning. I loved the diversity; I didn't realize that there were so many ethnic groups in China," said Dr. Humber.

She thought that it was a "beautiful blending of the scenery with the stories and the costumes."

"Absolutely stunning," she said.

The erhu, a two-stringed Chinese instrument, especially caught her attention.

She described the drums used in the dance set, Drummers of the Tang Court, as being "universal and so the power of the drum as a tool of expression was good."

She added, "The women's costumes were stunning. I particularly liked the handkerchief performance."

Dr. Humber noticed that she had been describing many different aspects of the show using the word, "stunning," because it was the first word that came to mind.

She noted that the show blended the "contemporary with the ancient, folklore with stories of struggle and triumph, of overcoming adversity.

"It's just been stunning. Costuming, everything, I've never seen anything like it in my life. Then you have these backdrops, and then this interactive backdrop," she explained. "I'm just excited that I've had this opportunity to see the show."

For Dr. Humber, the most remarkable thing about Shen Yun was the stand that it took "in terms of freedom of speech, of religious belief, spiritual belief, and addressing such issues in this kind of performance."

She said "that was quite stunning and very important to do so."

Not being versed in Chinese culture, she really appreciated the emcees bilingual commentary on each upcoming performance, saying it was "original, authentic, and beautiful.

"It told a story and gave you a look into the essence of these people, an essence that we don't normally get to see, including a blending of the scenery, beautiful highlights of Chinese scenery, and the naturalness of it."

She was particularly drawn to the dance set, Astounding Conviction, which portrayed the lack of freedom of expression in China today.

When she heard the emcee announce this dance set, and then saw the performance, she thought this was very bold of Shen Yun to do this. She wondered how the Chinese regime would ever support such an endeavor.

Then she realized that the show is independent of China's Communist regime and is based in the United States, so that explained the reason why Shen Yun was able to present the truth of the persecution, as it is really is.

"Very bold, and so I applaud them," she said.

Dr. Humber said that when she goes back to school in September, she will share her experience of the show with her students, many of whom are Asian.

Before seeing the show, she felt like she didn't have much to talk about to the large population of Chinese students on campus, except "Bruce Lee and acrobats."

She said that the show "goes far beyond that and it was just incredible to watch."

"I am totally grateful to have had the opportunity to even express my gratitude and joy [via this interview], let alone having had opportunity to actually see the show this afternoon," Dr. Humber said.

She said at the "core" of a Chinese person, "is their spirituality and their being in touch with the divine. So it's just a beautiful piece all wrapped up into one performance. That speaks of the power of this performance."

After seeing the show, she now has a deeper insight into China and her Chinese students, especially the ones that claim, "I'm atheist," or "I don't believe in God," or "I may be Buddhist, but..."

"That's why this show was stunning, because I saw an understanding and a connection with the spirituality that I haven't seen in daily contact with my students, certainly on a superficial level," she explained. "So it puts that piece into play, to understand that we have never had that picture of China before."

She said that Shen Yun "took the ancient, the folklore, the religious belief, the contemporary issues--and blended it all together in an incredible manner."

She concluded, "I was very pleased to have had this opportunity to see this performance and hope to see you again next year."

Source:

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/38925/

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/38941/

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