STANDING OVATIONS at the world’s top venues, royalty attending in Europe, sold-out shows throughout North America, and packed house across Asia have made Shen Yun an international phenomenon. Don’t miss Shen Yun’s all-new 2015 production, March 11-12 Ohio Theatre.
For the sixth straight year, performing arts lovers in Columbus will have the opportunity to experience the true performing arts from China that originated from their 5,000-year old history. Shen Yun, a world-class troupe that is devoted to reviving the pure traditional performing arts of that ancient culture, will be returning to the Ohio Theatre on March 11 and 12 with an all new show. This show is a vivid reminder that freedom of artistic expression is a precious right that we enjoy here in Ohio that is not available to many people in the world. Many aspects of the performing arts showcased in Shen Yun have been suppressed by the Communist Party (CCP) in China, in part because they draw on Buddhist and Taoist stories and traditions that the CCP has attempted to eradicate. The CCP routinely tries to interfere with this show.
The Shen Yun troupe is based in New York. They have a pipeline of young talent that comes to them via the Fei Tian Academy of the Arts, which was founded with the purpose of preserving and passing on the traditional Chinese performing arts for the world. In addition to a full complement of male and female dancers and solo operatic singers, a very accomplished orchestra travels with the troupe and accompanies the performances. The Shen Yun Orchestra includes both western and Chinese musical instruments, producing a unique and engaging sound. Thus the Shen Yun Orchestra will have a traditional western flutist seated next to a flutist with the traditional Chinese wooden flute. The effect is truly delightful.
The brilliantly colored costumes of the Shen Yun dancers represent the authentic native dress of many Chinese ethnic groups. The dancers perform against and interact with a state-of-the-art digitally projected backdrop portraying scenes from the lush countryside, mountains, and village areas of China.
In addition to bringing ancient Chinese legends to life, Shen Yun also addresses human rights issues in modern-day China and presents a couple of dance sequences which show the abuse of practitioners of Falun Gong (or Falun Dafa), a peaceful Buddhist meditation practice devoted to the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.
The continued success of Shen Yun in Columbus is a testament to the power of the arts to overcome arbitrary political obstacles and to stir the human spirit in the universal pursuit of the free expression of what is good and worthy in human culture.
See more about Shen Yun at ShenYun.com.
GCAC Presents is a bi-weekly column brought to you by the Greater Columbus Arts Council – supporting art and advancing culture in Columbus – in partnership with the Columbus Arts Marketing Association, a professional development and networking association of arts marketers. Each column will be written by a different local arts organization to give you an insiders look at the arts in Columbus.
