(Minghui.org) The Toledo-Stranahan Theater was the proud host of the Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company, which staged two shows on March 17-18, 2012, in Toledo, Ohio. Toledo, a dynamic and vibrant city, is the fourth most populous city in the United States.

Toledo mayor: Shen Yun 'is not simply stunning for its artistry but also refreshingly real, heartfelt, probing, and original'

Prior to the Shen Yun performance this year, Toledo City Mayor Michael P. Bell issued a proclamation announcing March 17 and 18, 2012, as "Shen Yun Day" in the city, expressing his appreciation for Shen Yun's mission to spread the essence of Chinese culture and its ancient values. It's the second time he has issued a proclamation; the first time was on May 14, 2010.

He wrote in the proclamation: “As Mayor of the City of Toledo, it is my privilege and responsibility to recognize those groups who have made outstanding achievements that reflect on the wellbeing and growth of the Toledo community and its citizens.

“With a cast of award-winning dancers, a live orchestral accompaniment, elaborate costumes and state-of-the-art digital backdrops, Shen Yun’s performances breathe new life into China’s classical culture. The company also seeks to use the traditional arts as a vehicle to spread a message of hope and beauty to reinvigorate Chinese culture with the values and spirituality that once made it so rich. It is not simply stunning for its artistry but also refreshingly real, heartfelt, probing, and original.”

Toledo city councilor: Shen Yun is ‘a beautiful experience, one that I will never forget!’

Mr. D. Michael Collins attends Shen Yun Performing Arts in Toledo, on March 17 (Courtesy of NTD Television)

One of the many distinguished guests of the show was Toledo City Councilor Mr. D. Michael Collins, who applauded the New York-based performance, calling it a positive experience for the community.

“Oh! I think that it is absolutely good for this community! I think when people see this, if they capture the real reason why these artists are performing—it’s not only to talk about the history—that beautiful and wonderful history of China, but it’s also to talk about its people and how vibrant, how beautiful, how athletic, and how distinguished they are as members of our entire universe. And this is what I take away from it, and I hope that everyone who comes takes away the same thing.

“I think the show is absolutely awesome! It’s spectacular! It certainly does bring forth one of the lines that was in the show that, ‘The Truth will break open the gates of delusion.’

“It’s just a beautiful experience, one that I will never forget! It is such a privilege to see the quality of the men and women who are in this performance and their commitment, dedication, and response. The artists are absolutely super. They are absolutely, without question, just true, true artists.”

Shen Yun takes the audience on a journey through China’s 5,000-year-old culture from ancient times to the present-day, according to the company’s website.

Mr. Collins commented on the performances that touch upon contemporary issues unfolding in China. “I hope that the government of China understands the concept of tolerance, which means that everyone has the right to practice and believe. I firmly think that China is a beautiful country with a long history and I think this is a time for Chinese leadership to recognize that humanity is totally important. I very strongly feel that a message must be sent that it is totally wrong for a person to be persecuted because of his belief in Falun Gong.”

In addressing the interference that Falun Gong practitioners have experienced from the Chinese Consulates overseas and the consulates attempts to pressure local authorities to oppose Falun Gong, Mr. Collins said, “I think that I was very fortunate that I have some history as a result of an experience I had when I was first elected and so I understand a bit of the history, a bit that most probably would not understand.”

He noted other aspects of the show, which he thoroughly enjoyed, and said that he was already looking forward to seeing Shen Yun again.

“I think the Chinese backdrops were really neat—the videography and everything that went into it. This is my second opportunity to see the show and it just goes far beyond my first experience. This is just great!”

When asked if he would recommend Shen Yun to his friends, Councilor Collins said, “I would merely say, 'You are in for an experience that is not definable. It measures culture, beauty, dignity, and just art, and it is all of those rolled into one.' It’s just a beautiful experience, one that I will never forget!”

Music teacher: ‘To say [Shen Yun] was uplifting is an understatement!’

Ms. Olevia Brown-Klahn speaks about her Shen Yun experience in Toledo (Courtesy of NTD Television)

Also in the audience was Ms. Olevia Brown-Klahn, a retired music teacher for a local public school system.

Ms. Brown-Klahn was visibly moved by Shen Yun. “I was telling my husband that, to me, [Shen Yun] represents some of the highest and best of human activity. To say it was uplifting is an understatement. I feel my spirit soaring; to me it reminds me of what human beings are capable of doing, the good they’re capable of doing, how the arts can move us towards something higher. Words fail me, really they do. I feel simply lifted.

“It was a very spiritual experience and it moved me, and I cried and I kept thinking, again, this is the highest and best of what humans can produce. I would want to help support this and I would hope that more people could witness this and be moved by it.

“Maybe as a result they can be more motivated to live by truth and perhaps to look at their fellow human beings a little differently, more in a positive manner, be more aware of how much we really do have in common. I would hope it would break down barriers in people. … This is just wonderful.”

Ms. Brown-Klahn continued. “When something touches my spirit, I cry and I kept crying in there because there is so much beauty and so much that, I feel, it’s just good for human beings, it is nourishing, it feeds the spirit.”

In speaking of the resounding voices of the bel canto soloists, Ms. Brown-Klahn enthused, “Magnificent! They made me cry because of the beauty of their sound and the power of their voices, and the conviction that you could hear and feel what they were singing. … Just beautiful!

“The musicians were wonderful, I kept watching the musicians and I intend to get more information about the two-stringed instrument, the erhu. Delightful sound! I really enjoyed that, I enjoyed this immensely, it was just plain wonderful.”

Her appreciation for the dancers was apparent in her enthusiastic remarks: “Oh, the things they can do with their bodies! My goodness, I’ve never seen bodies do that! They move together beautifully. … and the music and the dance blended together so well.

Shen Yun’s colorful costumes, which mirrored the dancers’ movements, also captured her attention. “I also sew and I looked at the costumes and thought, 'Oh my goodness, the yards of fabric and there are people who sew these gorgeous costumes together in every possible way.'”

In describing her overall impression of Shen Yun, she said, “It was just magnificent! The musicians, the dancers, the singers, and all the work that went into that, just magnificent. I’m so glad I saw this, it has really added something to my life to have seen this.”

Ms. Klahn-Brown concluded with a message for those who have not yet seen Shen Yun: “It will enrich your life. Please go and experience this! It will enrich your life.”

Toledo Commissioner: Shen Yun Is ‘something that just touches your heart and touches your soul!’

Mr. Clarence Coleman attends Shen Yun Performing Arts in Toledo. (Courtesy of NTD Television)

For Mr. Clarence Coleman, Commissioner of Taxation and Treasury for the City of Toledo, seeing Shen Yun was a heart-felt wish that finally came true.

“This is something I had wanted to attend many years ago, but it seemed like every year something came up, so I was determined to make it this year, and I will be back again!”

The Commissioner talked about the soulful nature of Shen Yun. “You could feel the performance. You can feel that the artists, when they sing, it is coming out of their souls. The dance is coming from their spirit and you can really feel that when they are dancing and performing, it makes you feel a part of the performance itself.”

Being one of the most complex, expressive and demanding art forms in the world, classical Chinese dance is more than just mastering the surface of the art. It is mastering the heart of the artist, which the audience connects with or feels. “And it’s something that just touches your heart and touches your soul. It’s just so real!” exclaimed Mr. Coleman.

He was very touched by the dance set in the opening performance, “An Era Begins,” in which a demon hoard suddenly descends to Earth, assuming human form during a time when China’s glorious culture was flourishing.

“The very opening of the show, the very beginning, it just set the stage for the message that was to be portrayed. The dance at the very beginning, you could just feel it from your heart and the message was just very well generated throughout the whole performance this evening,” he said.

Mr. Coleman was amazed by the resounding voices of bel canto soloists, which are an integral part of Shen Yun.

“Well, just the vocal cords and the ability to hit those notes and to sustain those [notes], it was just very beautiful. And the very last performance by the soprano— was just really heartfelt! [“Before Disaster, The Divine is Rescuing”] Just a wonderful performance! The arts, the music, the sopranos, the tenors, everything was just beautiful!”

Mr. Coleman talked about the deeper, profound inner meanings of the performances. “The message I got was one of unity, one of culture, one of diversity, one of compassion … good vs. evil, that message was portrayed very, very well.”

He thought that Shen Yun was beneficial for the community and that he would encourage others to see the show.

“It is very good, and I will take a lot back from it. Next year, I’ll encourage some of my friends and family to come and be a part of it for the first time. I think it is good for the city of Toledo and next year when you come back, you’ll see even more people.”

Federal judge: Shen Yun is ‘quite enjoyable’

(L to R) Family friend, two daughters, Judge Earl Ashford and wife, father and mother, attend Shen Yun Performing Arts In Toledo (Courtesy of SOH radio network)

Also attending the performance was Federal Judge Earl Ashford, his mother, wife, daughters, and a friend. They all said they were impressed with what they saw.

“I enjoyed the program quite a bit,” the judge said.

One of Shen Yun’s missions is to revitalize the core values and performing arts of ancient China, which Mr. Ashford commented on.

“It was clearly designed to maintain adherence to the traditional Chinese way of entertainment, so it was clear that it was based in more ancient [ways] rather than a new or modern approach,” he said.

Shen Yun specializes in authentic classical Chinese dance and uses it to depict legends from ancient China and contemporary stories of moral drama.

“The performance had a moral core to it that there was an attempt to bring some recognition of the importance of adhering to some spiritual goals rather than just the commercial, transient goals of today,” the judge said.

He felt the overall message that Shen Yun was trying to convey was that “we should all be more conscious of aiming for doing right and avoiding evil.”

Mrs. Newton agreed. “It was very clearly that the good—we hope—will always win, and we’re glad to see people are striving in our day and time, weighing out the good. We’ll all live better lives for that. Wonderful! I enjoyed it. I enjoyed it immensely. It was tremendous!”

“Quite enjoyable and something very different,” Mr. Ashford concluded.

Ballet dancer: Shen Yun ‘strong, so powerful’

Eric Hillenbrand and Condessa Croninger attend Shen Yun Performing Arts in Toledo on March 18 (Courtesy of NTD Television)

Founder and owner of the 20 North Gallery, developer and historic preservationist Eric Hillenbrand said the performance was “just magnificent.” The choreography was “heroic … the whole story line behind the performance was very powerful, very moving.”

Theater art director for 20 North Gallery Condessa Croninger, who also works with the Toledo Ballet, said Shen Yun “is truly a breathtaking celebration of the freedom of expression. I was amazed, blown away. And what I think impressed me most was not only the quality of the soloists, but how the corps seamlessly worked together with the soloists. It was far beyond what is typically seen on stage. It’s very, very beautiful choreography, and excellent dancing.

“There was a unique Chinese character that merged so well with the universal classical steps. It all flowed together seamlessly.”

Regarding the dance “Sleeves of Silk” Ms. Croninger said she was “just awestruck by the command that the dancers had over the costuming that they used, and how they were able to be so fluid and yet so tightly control the perimeters of the dance. It was beautiful.”

Mr. Hillenbrand commented on Shen Yun’s theatrical production and its effect on the audience.

“That’s where the visual impact comes in, starting off with the drum line, in the very opening number, that to me, that has a very theatrical connection with the audience. And the screen work, you know that just kept pulling you in. You could hear the audience every time somebody would jump off the back, then float out; the audience was still like, ‘Wow!’ … You just kept being drawn to it, you almost wanted to jump off with them,” he said.

Ms. Croninger said that when dancers appeared to fly into Shen Yun’s digitally projected backdrops, the excitement was catching.

Mr. Hillebrand agreed, saying, “Oh, it was, it was, and the whole audience, you could just hear them moving and just wanting to see them traveling off like that, it was an incredible effect.”

Both saw Shen Yun in 2010, and spoke of how moving they found that performance.

Mr. Hillebrand said that listening to the music really touched his emotions. “I enjoy singing, and I love to sing, and just being able to listen, I was particularly drawn in by the singers themselves. I mean, the powerful way in which they emoted these incredible songs. I was a mess. I was crying a lot, it was strong, so powerful.”

Ms. Croninger said that she enjoyed the projected, translated lyrics and that she felt she could have experienced the meaning of the songs even without knowing the words.

“To see the transcript, the subtitles of the words, did give it greater meaning, but the singing itself was so powerful, so heartfelt by the singers that it truly wasn’t necessary, as the audience could feel the intenseness of the belief from the singers,” she explained.

Each said they appreciated seeing such a skillful live performance. “When we were seeing the dancers on the stage, performing these amazing feats of dance and athleticism, that, in a world where so much is digitally manipulated, sometimes I think it wasn’t completely clear to everyone that what we were seeing on the stage was truly there, it seemed too perfect to be real,” said Ms. Croninger.

“Very much so,” said Mr. Hillebrand. “The naturalness of the dancing and the singing. I mean, as a total performance, you so rarely see that anymore; so much of it is controlled and contrived and created or enhanced digitally, and to see this live, it is very exciting.”

Sources:
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/arts-entertainment/shen-yun-toledo-ohio-35470.html
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/shen-yun-on-tour/toledo-city-councilor-applauds-shen-yun-absolutely-good-for-this-community-207285.html
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/shen-yun-on-tour/shen-yun-continues-to-amaze-and-uplift-toledo-audiences-207442.html
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/shen-yun-on-tour/shen-yun-is-something-that-just-touches-your-heart-and-touches-your-soul-says-toledo-commissioner-207315.html
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/shen-yun-on-tour/federal-judge-shen-yun-is-quite-enjoyable-209167.html
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/shen-yun-on-tour/ballet-dancer-shen-yun-strong-so-powerful-208564.html