LOS ANGELES—Shen Yun Performing Arts arrived at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in the Music Center for its first of 10 shows Friday evening Feb. 5. Rain did not stop the crowds from filling the theater and enjoying the show.

Among the audience was Ms. Cendejas, president of a division of the California Retired Teachers Association, who really enjoyed the show. "It’s just an excellent production," she said. She appreciated the precision of the dancers.

"When you’re watching the whole dance with 20 different dancers on stage, there’s always a surprise. One segment is doing something that you don’t expect. It keeps it alive and moving. You never lose interest." She said she “absolutely” enjoyed the choreography.

She also recognized what she called "the ethnic outreach." She was referring to the dance pieces depicting various ethnic groups throughout China including Tibetans, Mongolians, and the Miao people from southern China.

Shen Yun is billed as the world's premier Chinese dance and music company. According to its website, its mission is to revive traditional Chinese culture by offering its audiences an experience of sublime beauty.

Ms. Cendejas certainly experienced it. She said, "The singers are beautiful; their voices are just exquisite." She was struck by their clarity. "Obviously I didn’t understand the Chinese, but they expressed an emotion with the song."

One of the many unique features of Shen Yun is its larger-than-life, digital backdrop that enhances the imagery and mythical proportion of the pieces. Ms. Cendejas said, "The digital backdrop was so good."

She also recognized the educational value of the show, saying, "Any time you can attend something that’s authentic, it adds to your understanding of the world, and how cultures relate—how people relate. We’re all tied in."

Ms. Cendejas enjoyed the authenticity of the artistry, adding: "It was a beautiful recognition of the traditions in various regions of China, which have been suppressed historically."

She also noted a couple of the show's contemporary dances that depict the persecution of the spiritual discipline, Falun Dafa. She said, "We have to remember the human rights violations that are going on and not lose sight of that." She felt that those pieces were "right on. It was very true."

Ms. Carnejas said she would “absolutely” recommend Shen Yun to her friends. “It’s a beautiful cultural experience. Even if you don’t understand Chinese, they’ve made it possible to understand ... And of course the visuals are just outstanding."

Shen Yun will perform in Los Angeles at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion of the Music Center Friday Feb. 5 through Sunday Feb. 14.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. For more information, please visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org

Original article: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/29189/