Shen Yun

I immersed myself in some Chinese culture on Friday night when I attended the show by Shen Yun at the Sydney Lyric Theatre. 

Shen Yun is a non-profit performing arts company based in New York. It was established in 2006, and their mission is to revive traditional Chinese culture and showcase classical Chinese dance and music. They perform in major venues al over the world. 

The artists have many years of experience, having studied dance and music, and graduated from various schools, competed at competitions and performed on many stages. 

Two hosts welcomed everyone and introduced each section in both English and Chinese, which I think was helpful because we could all understand what the stories were about. They didn't just tell the story, they used some humour too, which made it even more interesting. 

The show was divided into eighteen different sections, which tell the story of China's five thousand years of civilisation. As soon as the curtain opened, I said quietly to myself, "Wow!" I was immediately hit by the bright colours of the costumes and the background, 

In the opening scene, To Begin a New Era: The curtain rises on a scene in the highest reaches of the cosmos. Divine beings have gathered here, waiting, With brilliant light, the Creator arrives on a golden chariot. His resounding voice echoes through the universe: "Follow me to the Earth and begin a new era." Divinities of every kind heed the call, joining the perilous journey down to the human world. There, reborn as mortals, they assume various roles - from emperor to court ladies to soldiers. Ready to fulfill their sacred mission, they take the stage in the grand play of history." - From the program book. 

Through out the two hour show, the artists displayed gracefulness, athleticism, strength, and beauty with every move. They were al in synch with each other and, from what I could see, not one person was out of place. Their faces showed that they really enjoy what they do and performing is not just a job for them. Each time they flipped and tumbled, I held my breath a little, hoping they would land safely. I'm like that when I watch gymnastics, which is one of my favorite sports. Thankfully, they did! 

A bit of magic was included in the show, with the artists appearing to jump in and out of the screen! I have never seen anything like that before and it was truly mesmerising. You go in, thinking it's just a background image but quickly see that the background is an extension of the stage. The program book says "Shen Yun's digital projection instantly puts you on the scene, The animated backdrop extends the stage to infinite realms and gives storytelling a new dimensionality."  Reading about it can't fully prepare you. You have to actually see it to believe it. It makes the show unique. 

The orchestra included a mix of Chinese and western instruments and were amazing. The music was beautiful and gave calming vibes.

There was a fifteen minute intermission during which people could stretch their legs, and go out for a break. Honestly, I didn't need it. I was just so entranced and the time went by so fast. It was the perfect show to see on a Friday night, after a full, busy week of work.

Shen Yun puts on a different show every year with new choreography, music, stories and costumes. That's great because people are encouraged to see it again. It's over for this year but I highly recommend that you see the show next year!