(Clearwisdom.net)
Dancer: "Poised and graceful"
LOS ANGELES--It was an auspicious weekend--with three holidays
aligning: Valentine's Day, Chinese New Year, and President's Day
weekend. Such an occasion is apt for a stunning production such as
Shen Yun Performing Arts, a world-class display of Chinese
classical dance and music. The final show in Los Angeles for this
tour brought in the Chinese New Year with a sold-out audience full
of pleased and enthusiastic viewers at the Music Center's Dorothy
Chandler Pavilion.
One of those viewers was Kelly Parra, an accomplished dancer, who
came with her family and friends.
Ms. Parra has won a number of national titles for her dancing and
has trained with several renowned choreographers. She has also
performed in music videos, including Usher's Pop Ya Collar.
She described the Chinese classical dance in Shen Yun as "very
graceful. Poised and graceful, very connected."
"It was very easy to connect with it because they told a story,"
she said, on how the inner meanings of the dance came through. "It
wasn't just random spontaneous movements and it was very nice they
described it beforehand, so you could appreciate it."
Kelly Parra along with friends and family at the Music Center's Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
Ms. Parra also said she enjoyed the singers, "They were awesome.
The last one was my favorite," referring to tenor Hong Ming. The
Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company includes three vocalists
and an instrumental duet, featuring a piano and an erhu, a Chinese
two-stringed instrument that is played with a bow.
Her friends were also happy that they saw the show.
Mr. Ricker, a Los Angeles real estate agent, said, "It was
wonderful! I liked it a lot!"
Ms. Ricker, who also works in real estate, was especially touched
by the piece Astounding Conviction, which depicts a Falun Gong
practitioner in China who is persecuted for his practice, but is
able to go free because of his steadfast belief.
"I thought the passion in the way he defended his faith was
phenomenal," said Ms. Ricker. Falun Gong is an ancient Chinese
spiritual practice that has been persecuted in China for the last
10 years.
She also was taken by the music: "I thought it was beautiful," she
said.
"Honorable and very warm," Says Distinguished Film Producer
Gregory Marquette, a distinguished writer, producer, and
television and movie director was in the audience. His Polaris
Entertainment Corporation has produced many award-winning
television and film productions.
Mr. Marquette wrote and hosted "Jazz Radio Canada" for CBC
Television and Radio. The documentary series is internationally
acclaimed.
This was the first time he experienced New York-based Shen Yun.
"It's impressive, very impressive," Mr. Marquette said. "I always
enjoy other cultures very much. And this is so colorful and full of
good, spirited entertainment for families--very good.
"I mean the intention of it, in terms of the heart, of the spirit,
in terms of love ... I can say honorable and very warm."
Shen Yun's stated mission is to reawaken mankind's divinely
bestowed heritage through classical Chinese dance, music, and
song.
"As a producer, I liked the choreography very much, enjoy the
costumes, the flowing colors, and the way it's presented, it's very
nicely done, and the dancers are doing an admirable job.
"Some of it is new to me ... a lot of this is new," he said. He
said he had seen other cultural dance performances.
"But this is very unique, it has its own style. I think it makes me
appreciate the culture more and also the depth of the culture. So I
think it's very good that way."
He said that he would definitely recommend that others see the
show.
"It's a very enjoyable, colorful experience, a culturally enriching
one, and a lot of fun."
Sources:
http://theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/29790/
http://theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/29770/
Category: Shen Yun Performing Arts
