Shen Yun making its return to the Central Valley with two-night performance in Fresno
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Walking into the William Saroyan Theatre you can find the makings of what promises to be a visually stunning journey into traditional Chinese culture.
From setting, the sound, and lighting-- to steaming the more than 400 hand sewn costumes that will color the stage, Shen Yun hopes to bring you an experience like no other.
Shen Yun dancer Madeline Lobjois said, "You will see celestial fairies, Buddha with their own regalia."
Alvin Song, Shen Yun dancer, said, "You'll be blown away by the colors, the sound, the music, the dance."
More than 60 dancers, accompanied by an orchestra, will bring ancient Chinese stories and tradition to life. The orchestra alone combines Chinese classical instruments with a western symphony.
"Primarily, what we perform is classical Chinese dance and that has a history of over 5,000 years," said Song.
Downtown Fresno marks 920 shows for Song. He said between all five of Shen Yun's companies, there are more than 600 performances reaching tens of thousands of people each year.
Though celebrating China's rich culture and history, that's the one place Shen Yun can't perform.
Song said, "It's kind of ironic that true traditional culture cannot be displayed in China. But then, at the same time, we feel that there's hope that one day we can return to our homeland and show this culture that was almost destroyed by the communist party."
Shen Yun consists of musicians and dancers from all over the world.
"When I perform on stage I want to give them a very pure message, and show them the beauty of the Chinese traditional culture that doesn't exist anymore in China," said Lobjois.
For two performances in the Central Valley, the company will combine original music, classic Chinese dance, and digital backdrops to bring you a performance that hopes to enrich and inspire.
If you miss their Fresno performances you have a chance to see them in San Francisco January 1st through the 7th.
