Shen Yun Brings a Splash of Sunshine to Fort Lauderdale

(Clearwisdom.net) The New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts held four exhilarating and uplifting shows at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Au-Rene Theater, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on February 10-12, 2012.
Psychologist calls Shen Yun ‘glorious’

Dr. Jane Dye and her friends attend Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Broward Center for Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale. (Courtesy of The Epoch Times)Dr. Jane Dye attended the Shen Yun show out of her interest in Falun Dafa, as she has been practicing the Falun Dafa exercises for about two to three months.

“Oh, it’s wonderful, just wonderful,” she said of the show. “So that’s why we were so interested in coming.” The Falun Dafa Association of Florida sponsored Shen Yun’s Florida engagements.Falun Dafa is a spiritual practice that involves slow-moving exercises and moral principles. It has been unjustly persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) since 1999.Dr. Dye shared her understanding of why Falun Dafa is persecuted in China: “They [the CCP] were uncomfortable with so many people so spiritually evolved.”“Oh, it was glorious,” said Dr. Dye, speaking of the performance. “The costuming, the dance, the colors—magnificent.”Dr. Dye’s friend John Cheraso, a mechanical engineer, said, “I find it very interesting that you can portray pieces of history through dance and expression like this.”

Shen Yun’s poetic nature a joy

Michael Cooper, chief concierge at the Lago Mar Resort Motel–a renowned oceanfront resort–attended Friday’s performance to get a better understanding of Shen Yun before telling the resort’s guests all about it.“To send my guests to such a wonderful show, I come to see it first,” said Mr. Cooper. “[Now] having seen it, I know it’s beautiful and very cultural for this community.”Mr. Cooper’s companion for the evening, Candace McKinniss, a schoolteacher, loved multiple aspects of the performance.“I loved the poetic nature of the songs, which then carried into the dances,” said Ms. McKinniss. “It’s so beautiful.”Ms. McKinniss felt the songs spoke to her heart, and set a mood and a feeling for the rest of the performance.“I just love the way it all ties together,” she said.

‘It was just fantastic’

John Lamont, a retired police officer, and Pat Allen, a former educator, also attended the performance.“It was just fantastic,” said Mr. Lamont. “We loved it. We appreciated the athleticism of the performers and the effort that they put into preparing for the performance. It was fantastic.”Mr. Lamont enjoyed the dance “Sleeves of Silk.” “They looked like they were just floating,” said Ms. Allen, who saw Shen Yun two years ago and decided to come back for more. When asked why, she had a simple answer. “They are beautiful.”

Company owner: ‘I loved the meaning’

Ross Gregg, who owns a company that sells forklifts, said the meaning in the song lyrics appealed to him.Shen Yun includes vocalists who sing in Chinese in the bel canto style. The lyrics are projected onto the backdrop in two languages, Chinese and the language of the host country.In describing the colors in the show, Mr. Gregg explained: “I love the colors, the beautiful colors. Purple is my favorite,” he said.Mr. Gregg was accompanied by Ms. Armenti, an artist who also works as a chef on a private yacht.She was also seeing Shen Yun for the first time. “As they say in the Spanish language, ‘encantada.’ It was enchanting. It was so enchanting and fascinating, and the dancers were so driven—they had a passion and a purpose for what they were doing.”Ms. Armenti said she felt very fortunate to experience the beauty of Shen Yun. “It was a blessing.” She said she felt blessed “to see the culture of the Chinese through their dance and their love of their history, through movement, through their history.” “It was beautiful.”“The passion was evident in every movement of their hands and their feet,” Ms. Argenti said.Mr. Gregg said he felt buoyed by the experience: “Inspiring, uplifting, very good. We enjoyed it.”

Shen Yun: A special Valentine’s gift for Fort Lauderdale

Also in the audience was Karen Kaye, a psychotherapist. “I thought it was magnificent, brilliant, symmetrical, cultural, inviting. I love the story that it told. I would see it again next year,” she said.Speaking of the spiritual aspect of the performance, she said: “Love it! It’s what I’m about—meditation, spirituality, reincarnation, fate. It was all part of the story, and I enjoyed it very, very much.”She said she felt absolutely inspired. “I liked at the end that good outweighs evil. That was very enlightening and very uplifting.”

Microbiologist calls Shen Yun an ‘historical explanation’

Stefan Mojsilovic, who works in the pharmaceuticals industry, said, “You can learn a lot about Chinese culture just coming here.” Mr. Mojsilovic was accompanied by Olja Marjanovic, a microbiologist.Ms. Marjanovic spent seven months in China recently. She said, “Here and there—completely different.” In contrast to her experience while in China, she described Shen Yun to be an “historical explanation.”Mr. Mojsilovic added, “she [Ms. Marjanovic] told me you can’t just have anything like this there—in China.” He described Shen Yun as “really amazing.”“Never seen anything like it,” he said.The two of them praised the colors in the performance and the handmade costumes that span China’s dynasties, regions, and ethnic groups.“The orchestra was really good. Yes, the whole performance,” said Ms. Marjanovic. “We had binoculars, we saw it.”“The orchestra, everything. The songs were amazing!” said Mr. Mojsilovic.Referring to Classical Chinese dance, which embodies traditional aesthetic principles, unique dance movements, rhythms, and inner meaning, Mr. Mojsilovic said, “It has a lot of meaning to it. Amazing. I was impressed.”

Florida officials welcome Shen Yun

This is the fifth consecutive year that Shen Yun has performed in Florida. Letters of greeting from federal and local officials again honored the occasion.


Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz recognized Shen Yun for its “unwavering commitment to renewing, preserving, and celebrating these forms of traditional Chinese dance.” (Provided by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Courtesy of The Epoch Times)Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz welcomed “internationally renowned” Shen Yun Performing Arts to the Broward Center: “It is performances like the one you will see … that remind us all of the unique ability of the arts to transport us to another time and place and to communicate lessons about the heritage and traditions of cultures from across the globe.”The Congresswoman recognized Shen Yun for its “unwavering commitment to renewing, preserving, and celebrating these forms of traditional Chinese dance.”Rep. Ted Deutch wished this year’s tour great success and “continued growth and expansion in the years to come.”“Shen Yun Performing Arts is greatly appreciated and celebrated for its unique classical Chinese dance and music. I am inspired by the group of Chinese artists who revived 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture, forming Shen Yun Performing Arts. It is truly a remarkable and diverse program showcasing talented dancers, singers, and musicians,” the Congressman wrote.Rep. Alcee L. Hastings welcomed Shen Yun to South Florida, recognizing the performing arts company for its “very entertaining and widely acclaimed program.” The Congressman expressed “great respect for Chinese culture and traditions.”

‘Exhilarating event’

Fort Lauderdale Mayor John P. Seiler welcomed back the cast and musicians presenting this “culturally rich and exhilarating event.” Shen Yun celebrates the excellence of Chinese classical dance inspired by a 5,000-year-old culture.

John P. “Jack” Seiler, mayor of Fort Lauderdale, described Shen Yun as “a wonderful showcase for the talents of the dancers, musicians, and artists involved in the spectacular production of myths, legends, and ancient Chinese culture.” (Provided by John P. “Jack” Seiler, Courtesy of The Epoch Times)“It is a wonderful showcase for the talents of the dancers, musicians, and artists involved in the spectacular production of myths, legends, and ancient Chinese culture,” he wrote.On behalf of the Broward County Commission, County Mayor John E. Rodstrom Jr. welcomed Shen Yun: “This show will bring our residents an unforgettable experience through Chinese dance, music, and culture. We have much to learn from a society that spans more than 5,000 years.”North Miami Beach Mayor George Vallejo appreciated Shen Yun for allowing South Florida the opportunity to share in celebrating its spectacular dances, in which the “Chinese traditional culture helps illustrate the deeper spiritual core” of the ancient culture.

George Vallejo, mayor of North Miami Beach, appreciated Shen Yun for bringing South Florida the opportunity to see “spectacular dances” through which traditional Chinese culture "helps illustrate the deeper spiritual core" of the ancient culture. (Provided by George Vallejo, Courtesy of The Epoch Times)

Sources: 
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/shen-yun-on-tour/psychologist-calls-shen-yun-glorious-190470.html 
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/shen-yun-on-tour/shen-yun-s-poetic-nature-a-joy-189899.html 
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/shen-yun-on-tour/company-owner-i-loved-the-meaning-189814.html 
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/shen-yun-on-tour/shen-yun-a-special-valentines-gift-for-fort-lauderdale-189667.html 
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/shen-yun-on-tour/microbiologist-calls-shen-yun-an-historical-explanation-189745.html 
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/shen-yun-on-tour/shen-yun-opens-florida-performances-in-fort-lauderdale-189350.html