Shen Yun to Bring Bold New Production to Boise Next Spring

Shen Yun Performing Arts presents a bold and high-energy new production in Boise with two shows at the Morrison Center, March 20 - 21, 2018.

The gong strikes and a journey across five millennia begins. From the mist, 60 dancers clad in traditional costumes emerge in front of a 30-foot tall video backdrop that morphs from the mountains of Tibet to the sprawling plains of Mongolia and points in between. A 40-piece orchestra rises with the sounds of western and ancient eastern instruments. The all-new spectacular Shen Yun 2018 tells the banned in Communist China stories of when heroes split mountains and swam with dragons, when divine beings walked the earth and when dynasties ruled supreme.

Since 2007, more than five million people in 30 countries on four continents have enjoyed Shun Yun. Each year a new production is created and five touring companies travel the globe.

"Shen Yun performs the essence of Chinese culture and the historical figures who have been nurtured by it," says H. Sue Gao, Vice President of Shen Yun's training school, Fei Tian College. "Shen Yun is using classical Chinese dance to present this culture on the world stage."

Cherished stories from China's 5,000-year history like the tales of the heroine Mulan and General Yue Fei are told through large scale dance numbers featuring authentically detailed period costumes. The vibrant video backdrop transports audiences through time to ancient dynasties such as the Tang and the Qin, to the mountains of Tibet, the shores of a Dai village and the sprawling plains of Mongolia. The interactive video allows dancers to jump in and out of the screen delighting the audience.

In "The Fable of the Magic Brush," a rescued maiden bestows a magic brush upon her savior that transforms anything he paints into reality. When the savior paints on the video screen, the object becomes a cartoon in motion. Ultimately the maiden and savior jump into an ocean on screen where they become animated figures swimming underwater and flying in the skies.

The Shen Yun Orchestra combines the spirit, beauty and distinctiveness of Chinese music with the precision, power and grandeur of the Western symphony orchestra. Traditional instruments are combined with the 5,000 year old pipa and erhu resulting in two glorious traditions melding into one refreshing sound. Top composers from around the world create original music for each production. Bel Canto soloists perform impassioned songs throughout the show.

Over 5,000 years the traditions of martial arts, Chinese opera, folk dancing and acrobatics have linked to form traditional Chinese dance. Known for its incredible flips and spins, and its gentle elegance, classical Chinese dance is one of the most rigorous and expressive art forms in the world.

China was once known as the Divine Land where deities and mortals coexisted peacefully. The culture of the Buddhist, Taoist and other disciplines along with calligraphy, music, medicine, attire and dance was said to be a gift from the heavens. Today, the Communist regime treats traditional ideas of harmony between heaven and earth as a threat to its existence. The stories once handed down from generation to generation are now forbidden in China.

We invite you to enter the gates of a lost civilization. Two performances only, March 20-21, 2018. Morrison Center for the Performing Arts, 2201 W Cesar Chavez Ln, Boise, ID 83725. Tickets range from $86 to $160, and are available at the Morrison Center Box Office, MorrisonCenter.com, or by calling 208-426-1110.

In 2006, a group of leading classical Chinese artists came together in New York with one wish: to revive the true, divinely inspired culture of China and share it with the world. Entirely nonprofit and independent of the Chinese regime, Shen YunPerforming Arts enjoys the artistic freedom of New York, enabling it to now bring these ancient traditions to the stage. Shen Yun and its mission have drawn top talent from around the world; many artists are winners of international competitions in dance, choreography, and music. The five companies travel six months of the year, performing in more than 30 countries on four continents. To date, millions have seen a Shen Yun show.

For more information on Shen Yun Performing Arts, visit www.shenyun.com or go to www.youtube.com/ShenYunTV.

Located on the campus of Boise State University, the 2,037-seat Velma V. Morrison Center for the Performing Arts is Idaho's premier performing arts center. Nestled on the banks of the Boise River, with a panoramic view of the city, parks and foothills, the Center's 10-story stage house is a recognizable fixture of the Capitol's picturesque skyline. The realization of a life-long dream of Harry W. Morrison, and championed by his widow, Velma, the Center opened its doors on April 7, 1984. Today the Center is recognized as a major destination for arts and culture, annually hosting hundreds of live entertainment and arts education offerings that serve to enrich the lives of patrons of all ages. As a Boise State affiliate, the Center is a non-profit organization supported by ticket sales, facility rentals, donations and the generous support of the Morrison Center Endowment Foundation, Inc. For more information on our programs, or to find out how you can play an active role in our ongoing success as a donor or volunteer, visit www.MorrisonCenter.com.

 

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