Former Dancer Says Shen Yun Makes Her Soul Happy
PORTLAND, Oregon—The Portland Center for the Performing Arts, considered one of the top 10 performing arts centers in the nation, showcased New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts on March 20 in its Keller Auditorium. Among those delighted by the performance, were Sophia Kennedy, a former dancer and her friend Claudia, a jeweler.
"We have spent the most delightful hours watching beautiful women and young men perform with such grace. They were like butterflies. They were beautiful. It was very uplifting. And my little soul is very happy," were Ms. Kennedy's first comments about the show.
Shen Yun specializes in presenting world-class Chinese classical dance that depicts stories of virtue and courage.
"The costuming was exquisite and the girls, you can see that they have excellent training and the classical movements. They were very, very precise in their movements and the steps were done right and properly, it seems like there’s no effort into it—very, very wonderful," she continued.
As a grandmother now, Ms. Kennedy described her taste for dance: I don’t like all kinds of dance. I don’t like the dance the kids do when they are out clubbing or something, but I do love classical ballet. I do ethnic dancing, my daughter performed in Greek dancing. I like the classicals very, very much."
When trying to get at why she prefers classical dance, she said "It appeals to me extremely ... because you have to study, you have to study hard."
In addition to story-based dances, Shen Yun incorporates dances of different Chinese ethnicities. One of those dances appealed to Ms. Kennedy very much, "the one with the little bell … that one with the white fans, just fantastic."
This particular dance, In a Miao Village, represents one of China's oldest ethnic groups, the Miao who are known for their elaborate headdresses and ornate silver jewelry, according to Shen Yun's program booklet. Their costumes include jingling bells which adds a distinctive touch to this folk dance.
"And the movements, I’ve never seen movements like that. That was really, really beautiful," Ms. Kennedy added.
Ms. Kennedy was also entranced by the music. She enjoys Chinese music and uses it for meditation.
Shen Yun has an orchestra supporting the dancers, one composed of both Chinese and Western instruments.
"It’s a marriage. The music has to balance [the dance performances]. It wasn’t so loud, it wasn’t overpowering. It was uplifting. It seemed to be a very intricate part of the movement. If you [could] see music on stage, that was the dancers. The dancers were the dancing music. It seems like they are one—you needed one. They balanced each other very beautifully. ... It’s complemented extremely well. They used the classical backgrounds and composed what was just perfect."
Shen Yun Performing Arts performs one more show in Portland at the Keller Auditorium on Sunday, March 21, before traveling to Seattle, Washington, for two shows on March 23 and 24.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. For more information, please visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
Read the original story at The Epoch Times
"We have spent the most delightful hours watching beautiful women and young men perform with such grace. They were like butterflies. They were beautiful. It was very uplifting. And my little soul is very happy," were Ms. Kennedy's first comments about the show.
Shen Yun specializes in presenting world-class Chinese classical dance that depicts stories of virtue and courage.
"The costuming was exquisite and the girls, you can see that they have excellent training and the classical movements. They were very, very precise in their movements and the steps were done right and properly, it seems like there’s no effort into it—very, very wonderful," she continued.
As a grandmother now, Ms. Kennedy described her taste for dance: I don’t like all kinds of dance. I don’t like the dance the kids do when they are out clubbing or something, but I do love classical ballet. I do ethnic dancing, my daughter performed in Greek dancing. I like the classicals very, very much."
When trying to get at why she prefers classical dance, she said "It appeals to me extremely ... because you have to study, you have to study hard."
In addition to story-based dances, Shen Yun incorporates dances of different Chinese ethnicities. One of those dances appealed to Ms. Kennedy very much, "the one with the little bell … that one with the white fans, just fantastic."
This particular dance, In a Miao Village, represents one of China's oldest ethnic groups, the Miao who are known for their elaborate headdresses and ornate silver jewelry, according to Shen Yun's program booklet. Their costumes include jingling bells which adds a distinctive touch to this folk dance.
"And the movements, I’ve never seen movements like that. That was really, really beautiful," Ms. Kennedy added.
Ms. Kennedy was also entranced by the music. She enjoys Chinese music and uses it for meditation.
Shen Yun has an orchestra supporting the dancers, one composed of both Chinese and Western instruments.
"It’s a marriage. The music has to balance [the dance performances]. It wasn’t so loud, it wasn’t overpowering. It was uplifting. It seemed to be a very intricate part of the movement. If you [could] see music on stage, that was the dancers. The dancers were the dancing music. It seems like they are one—you needed one. They balanced each other very beautifully. ... It’s complemented extremely well. They used the classical backgrounds and composed what was just perfect."
Shen Yun Performing Arts performs one more show in Portland at the Keller Auditorium on Sunday, March 21, before traveling to Seattle, Washington, for two shows on March 23 and 24.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. For more information, please visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
Read the original story at The Epoch Times
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