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World’s Premier
Classical Chinese Dance & Music Production Returns to Detroit
(Jan. 26-29, 2012) and Toledo (March 17 & 18)
A GIFT FROM A DIVINE LAND:
There was a time long, long ago when China was known as Tian
Chao— The Land of the Divine. The arts and the culture there
were considered so exquisite and so vibrant that they could only
have been bestowed by the heavens. And thus the people of the
land strove to hold themselves to a higher standard so as to be
worthy of such gifts.
Today, Shen Yun brings these gifts to you. Perhaps it is the
quiet gentleness of the heavenly maidens that reminds us of a
better time and a better world. Perhaps it is the conviction of
warriors dashing across the plains that tells us that good
always defeats evil in the end. Or maybe it’s just the timeless
stories of courage and compassion, kindness and kinship.
A PERFORMANCE 5,000 YEARS IN THE MAKING:
A performance by Shen Yun is traditional Chinese culture as it
was meant to be: a study in grace, wisdom, and all the virtues
distilled from millennia of Chinese civilization. The
classically trained dancers, musicians, and singers of Shen Yun
Performing Arts share a vision: to revive and restore Chinese
culture to its former, glorious state.
Based in New York, Shen Yun Performing Arts is distinguished by
its conscious effort to remain independent of China’s communist
regime, which has abused and impoverished the arts for decades.
In fact, a show like Shen Yun’s can no longer be found in China
today. As one well-traveled New Yorker noted: “I’ve seen China
before with my eyes, but this show had me experience China with
my soul.”
ONE OF THE MOST
DEMANDING ART FORMS IN THE WORLD
No other art form in the world boasts such strong expressive
qualities and diversity of technique as classical Chinese dance.
It takes years of rigorous training to master the many leaps,
flips, and delicate gestures. Dancers must also be versed in
Chinese culture to achieve the bearing needed to bring ancient
legends and heroic figures to life.
In addition to the classical forms, Shen Yun features the
distinctive colors and styles of ethnic and folk dance.
Choreographers draw upon over 20 dynasties and 50 ethnic groups
to create pieces that range from the northern steppes of
Mongolia to the lush forests of Yunnan. Among the most
impressive elements of any Shen Yun show are the large-scale
ensemble pieces in which dozens of dancers appear to move as one
body across the stage.
Shen Yun has also created its very own brand of story-based
dance, which often deals with universal, thought-provoking
themes. As one distinguished ballet dancer noted, “There’s a lot
of depth and meaning. It’s a new realm of dance.”
TWO GREAT CLASSICAL
MUSIC TRADITIONS — ONE FRESH, UNEXPECTED SOUND
Some remarkable instruments such as the pipa or erhu
date back more than 3,500 years, but the reality is very few
Chinese instruments have made it to the world stage. To remedy
this, the composers of Shen Yun bathe the distinctly Chinese
sounds in a rich sea of Western strings, percussion, woodwinds,
and brass. The result? A new and mesmerizing sound.
Each season, the composers create over 20 original scores. They
work closely with the choreographers to ensure a seamless
blending of the music with each and every dance.
EXTRAORDINARY ARTISTS:
“There’s just something about them,” audience members often
remark.
At a time when the influence of Taoism, Buddhism, and
Confucianism was strong in the Middle Kingdom, art was a means
to explore the connection between mankind and the higher
universe. Poets and artists cultivated virtue and engaged in
study and meditation because they believed that to create true
art worthy of the heavens, there must first be inner beauty and
purity.
Today, the artists of Shen Yun follow in that noble tradition.
Their training regimen requires focus and a mindful lifestyle.
Among the company’s artists are accomplished choreographers and
composers as well as winners of international competitions in
dance, music, and singing. No other Chinese performing arts
group in the world can boast such a remarkable body of talent.
A BRAND NEW PRODUCTION FOR 2012 WORLD TOUR: Months of training and
preparation culminate each winter when Shen Yun debuts a
spectacular original production with all new dances, costumes,
and music.
To date, Shen Yun Performing Arts has performed in over 130
cities, playing in notable venues like the Lincoln Center (New
York), Kennedy Center (Washington DC), War Memorial Opera House
(San Francisco) and Palais de Congres (Paris).
Experience the extraordinary.
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