ATLANTA, Ga.—Theatergoers got a chance to see the beauty of traditional Chinese culture when they watched Shen Yun perform at the Atlanta Symphony Hall on the weekend.
And for some, it wasn’t their first time.
Karen Klinkman, a former attorney, has been coming to see Shen Yun for years.
“I am a long-time fan of Shen Yun. This is my seventh show. Each time I come, I introduce it to someone else,” Ms. Klinkman said.
Cole Wyant, co-owner of J. Galt Finance Suite, watched Shen Yun’s performance with his wife, Deborah.
“The performance was fantastic; it exceeded our expectations in every way. We had high expectations, but it blew those out of the water. It was just great,” said Mr. Wyant.
Mrs. Wyant, who is a co-owner with her husband in J. Galt Finance Suite, said Shen Yun was “very, very moving.”
“It was just elegant, it was beautiful, it was emotional, it was moving, it was passionate, it was engaging, it was thrilling,” Mrs. Wyant said.
“There are moments of sadness, moments of joy and celebration,” she said. “A lot of storytelling throughout the whole performance. It was just very, very moving.”
Basia Milewicz, a top Polish model, really appreciated what she saw on stage.
“Amazing music, live music and choreography, costumes, design. It’s obviously in a good spirit. It’s very positive and has a good message,” she said.
Ryan Eaglen, owner of Home Refinements, said Shen Yun was both beautiful and emotional.
“It was one of the most beautiful performances they [had] ever been to in the arts,” said Mr. Eaglen, referring to his friends who had seen Shen Yun and asked him to watch it.
Welcomed by Atlanta City Council
Shen Yun Performing Arts also received a proclamation from the Atlanta City Council.
“Sixteen members of the city council, showing the city of Atlanta’s support for this incredible program that I have heard so much about in the last several weeks and months. It’s really a special annual tradition for a lot of people in Atlanta,” said Matt Westmoreland, a council member of Atlanta.
“And it’s meaningful for us to be able to honor and recognize that tonight,” he said.
Shen Yun brings the audience 5,000 years of divinely inspired culture before communism through classical Chinese dance and music.
Laura Bidnan, CEO of Goldencare Hospice and Palliative Care LLC., said that Shen Yun was inspirational. She appreciated the artistry and storytelling of the performance.
“I really liked it. Divine. Then there is hope,” Ms. Bidnan said.
Shen Yun Performing Arts showcases an all-new performance every year.
Renee Mollenhour, a dance instructor, said that the precision and the attention to detail, as well as the synchrony of the dancers, was just phenomenal.
“It’s extremely difficult even to get a few dancers to dance in synchrony like that, let alone a stage full of dancers,” said Ms. Mollenhour.
“Just the uniformity… It’s just a harmonious visual experience,” she added.
Anthony Bondoch, owner of AMB Financial Services, said he enjoyed both the music and the dancing from the performance.
“I’m really enjoying the upbeat music and all the purposeful movements of all the dancers. You can really tell they practice hard, and they’re very disciplined,” said Mr. Bondoch.
Courtney Eidson, an interior designer, also made some recommendations about Shen Yun.
“It’s just a really nice, artistic experience, and everyone should see it. To learn more about ancient Chinese culture,” Ms. Eidson said.
Shen Yun will be back in Atlanta this weekend.
NTD News, Atlanta, Georgia.
