(Clearwisdom.net) Bringing its audience to a resounding standing ovation Saturday afternoon, Shen Yun Performing Arts delighted a packed house at the Paramount Theatre for the second and final performance of its Spring Tour 2009 in Seattle.

One of the enthusiastic audience members was Ms. Wu, CEO of a real estate services company, who has seen the New York-based Shen Yun performance once before. "This performance deeply moved me," she said.

Ms. Wu, CEO of a real estate services company

"In the show I saw so many handsome men and beautiful women who were so dedicated to performing. The performance was honestly amazing. It was not only beautiful, but extremely spectacular. I think everyone should watch this show. I am very touched by the performers' dedication. I really, really love this performance. The more I watch it, the more I enjoy it. Next year I will come again."

Ms. Wu, who is a distinguished member of Seattle's Chinese community, and plays a leading role in community affairs as well as abroad, was highly impressed with Shen Yun. "I think all the programs were very good. All of them were distinct. I think the music, the drums and the elegant gestures in the programs were very good."

Ms. Wu said classical Chinese culture "is very profound with thousands of years of history. The costumes, the songs and the various kinds of gestures are all very miraculous. Through this way, we can forever preserve and embrace our Chinese traditional culture."

She enjoyed how one of the emcees, a Westerner, taught the audience a few words in Chinese. "This can let non-Chinese have a sense of Chinese history, written characters, beautiful women, handsome men, astounding gestures, drums, and music. It's great to put all these together--it must have taken a lot of heart and commitment."

She concluded by saying that she would bring all her friends next year. "I will get more people to come down to watch it and enjoy the evening. It's so wonderful."

Bellevue City Councilor Mr. Lee was very impressed by Shen Yun's presentation of traditional Chinese culture and noted how accessible it was made for a Western audience. "Being a Chinese American myself, this is a great manifestation of the past and it connects the two cultures together," he said. "It's just a wonderful, wonderful feeling."

City Councilor Mr. Lee at the Shen Yun Performing Arts 2009 Spring Tour at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle

Mr. Lee said he appreciated Shen Yun's orchestra and its blend of classical Chinese and Western instruments, a unique combination that has won praise from Chinese and Western audiences alike. "The music is universal, you don't even need to understand the words but it conveys a sense of universality and it's a good feeling," he said.

The councilor added, "It's just a good thing to see how the cultures can blend together, how they can work so well and again when you recognize beauty, when you recognize things that we are proud of you just feel it."

"You can see the quality and the commitment of the people who do this. They believe in it and they perform it well. Obviously it takes a lot of practice, a lot of work, and I think that this is a product that reflects people's commitment, involvement and appreciation for what they do."

Upon watching the beauty and goodness of China's divinely inspired culture portrayed through dance, song, and storytelling, audience members are often moved to tears.

"There is a spiritual side of it too," added Mr. Lee, "Aside from that the beauty brings out the spiritual part of human goodness, and it shows."

Continuing its Spring Tour 2009, Shen Yun Performing Arts received a warm standing ovation from the audience in its second and final show at Seattle's Paramount Theatre on Saturday afternoon.

Joining the enthusiastic audience, environmental scientist Ms. Seebach was impressed by the perfection of Shen Yun's artists. "I really enjoyed it. I was blown away by the synchronicity, the perfection. We got emotional," she said.

Ms. Seebach (L) and her mother, Gabrielle, at the Shen Yun show in Seattle on Saturday afternoon

"Very emotional," added her mother, Gabrielle, a hospital rehabilitation worker. Ms. Seebach brought her mother to see Shen Yun as a birthday present.

"The artists, the colors, the perfection ... how they are in unison is amazing. I can totally appreciate how they are beyond professional!"

Gabrielle said the orchestra, with its blend of Chinese and Western instruments was "awesome" as were, "all people who made this possible, all the people who sewed the costumes. Every little detail is amazing."

Ms. Seebach said the songs by soloists Guan Guimin, Min Jiang, Tian Ge, and Pi-Ju Huang, "bring out the emotions in you. The female and the male singers are awesome. The drumming is amazing."

Gabrielle was moved by the erhu, a two-stringed Chinese instrument played by Mei Xuan. "It draws on the emotional heartstrings, it's very mournful and expressive," she said.

"It's kind of sad when you hear that that type of tradition is being pushed down in [the Chinese] culture," said Ms. Seebach, referring to the oppression of traditional Chinese culture that began with the advent of communism to China. "We left east Germany--it was the same kind of thing. We don't like communism," said Gabrielle.

"It's things like [the Shen Yun show] we really need to take lessons from because they do have such a long history... The [Chinese culture] has so much to offer others, such beauty to see, and we should enjoy that."

Seattle school superintendent Dr. Goodloe-Johnson and her young daughter joined the packed house at the Paramount Theatre to watch Shen Yun Performing Arts on Saturday afternoon, May 23.

Seattle school superintendent Dr. Goodloe-Johnson and her daughter at the Seattle production of Shen Yun Performing Arts

Presenting traditional Chinese culture through dance, song, and stories from China's different dynasties and regions, New York based Shen Yun has consistently wowed audiences with it's colorful and exciting production.

"I thought it was excellent," said Dr. Goodloe-Johnson. "The costumes were beautiful; the choreography, the precision. We really enjoyed it. It was a beautiful show."

She said she enjoyed the drumming that was featured prominently in two pieces, "Victory Drums" and "Drummers of the Tang Court." Drums play an important role in Chinese culture and the powerful drumming in these two acts evoke inner strength and perseverance.

As an educator Dr. Goodloe-Johnson felt that seeing Shen Yun was a great opportunity to learn about classical Chinese culture.

"We have a very diverse population in Seattle and many of our students in the public schools are of Chinese heritage, so absolutely they would enjoy it. It's good for all of our children because everyone can learn from it."

Source:

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/17221/

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/17212/

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/17200

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/17214/