Classical dance company Shen Yun Performing Arts transported Las Vegas theatergoers through 5,000 years of Chinese culture at the Smith Center for Performing Arts from Feb. 29 to March 3.
On behalf of the state of Nevada, Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony awarded Shen Yun with a certificate recognizing the company’s accomplishments and cultural contributions. “Nevada celebrates your brilliant artistic accomplishments and cultural contributions throughout the world. Your performances show traditional Chinese culture which will not only entertain but educate, enrich, and inspire audiences of all ages throughout the world with an experience of beauty and goodness. Signed by myself, Stavros Anthony lieutenant governor with a seal of Nevada. Congratulations.”
Mr. Anthony attended the show with his wife and he applauded Shen Yun’s performance. “The dancing was so athletic and graceful, and the colors. It’s really a tribute to the country of China to be able to bring their history and their culture and traditions here to the state of Nevada, and the City of Las Vegas. And obviously, the crowd that’s watching absolutely loved it because they couldn’t stop clapping the entire time.”
Dawn Rawle, the vice president of marketing at Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino, said, “I thought it was incredibly impactful, through dance, through the culture that is expressed. Just overall the artistic expression throughout, it’s just absolutely lovely.”
Gary Gottlieb, a manager at Ault Alliance, said, “That’s part of the inspiration here. Because again, from Divine Beauty, that incorporates one’s internal strength, and devotion, and truth and kindness. I think that’s really what is behind the phrase ‘divine beauty.’ It’s just not physical, but it’s metaphysical.”
Chinese culture is believed to be deeply rooted in divinity and spirituality. Shen Yun showcases these beliefs through the medium of classical Chinese dance and music.
John Vitali, a project manager at the Los Angeles Superior Court, said, “It’s a message of unification. We come from the same place, we have the same creator, and just as there’s variety in how we look, there’s variety in nature as well.”
“Some of our traditions are different, just as nature has its own beauty. There’s a variety of trees. There’s a variety of us. And it’s just a unifying message,” he added.
Mr. Anthony added, “I think that we have to understand that we all come from Heaven, and we come down to Earth and we do the best we can, and there may be some flaws, but we have to sacrifice to make sure we’re better people.”
Ms. Rawle commented on the performance, saying, “I think the messages of divine power, empowerment throughout is one of the messages as well. There is an intersection of temporary pain, the message of a divine intervention, and moving to a higher level was absolutely beautiful. And you know, as it was told with the dance and the creativity and the visuals, it was wonderful.”
Shen Yun will perform 10 shows at the Miller Theater in Philadelphia from March 9 to 17.
NTD News, Las Vegas, Nevada
