Photos courtesy Shen Yun Performing Arts
By PAM HARBAUGH
It sounds like something rare is about to hit the stage at the King Center. It’s called “Shen Yun.”
The show takes you back to an ancient China which was known as the “Middle Kingdom” and the “Land of the Divine.” It features about 65 dancers and 35 orchestra members. Using classical Chinese ballet, the dancers and narrators tell stories and myths of heroes, dragons, emperors and immortals. The musicians play ancient instruments. The only thing that’s modern, really, are the large, vivid projections used as a backdrop.
Shen Yun Performing Arts
For sure, if you’re any kind of culture vulture, you’ve seen Shen Yun’s bright yellow posters and flyers pasted all over Brevard County. After doing some research and talking with one of the three people with the Florida Falun Dafa Association who’ve organized to present the group at the King Center, I’ve come to the conclusion that a poster, despite how pretty they are, can’t even scratch the surface of what’s to come.
Shen Yun Performing Arts
Oh..and yes…that’s right. Only there are only three local people who form the loosely organized but mission-driven group dedicated to sharing this. One of them is Lisa Sim, and she says anyone who sees a Shen Yun performance leaves uplifted at the very least.
Perhaps that comes from the organization’s belief that heaven and earth are one as is humanity and nature. You can see that expressed in the organization’s video, “At One with Nature.” You can view it below.
But it’s more than storytelling, Ms. Sim said. There’s a more resonating spirituality that comes from it, she said. And, she said, this is the only time the group will perform in Brevard.
Shen Yun performs 2 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 20 at the King Center for the Performing Arts, 3865 N. Wickham Rd., Melbourne. Tickets range from $50 to $180 but are almost gone. Call 321-242-2219 or visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org or KingCenter.com. The easiest thing, however, is to just click onto their ad along the right side of this page.
