Last night was awesome. For once, we got to (figuratively) kick up our heels and become part of the audience. Last night the entire Shen Yun New York Company watched our friends with the Shen Yun International Company perform at McCaw Hall in Seattle. Usually being the ones on stage, this time we got to jump to the other side of the orchestra pit and view our production from the audience’s perspective. Very eye opening, I must say.

This is something we rarely get to do. I’ve only seen such an auspicious constellation of schedules during tour once or twice before. But we got lucky this time. A break day + our needing to be in Seattle for our departure to Tokyo the next day = one great night out.

When the curtain opened for the first program, I finally understood why the audience applauds the way they do. It must be the suspense—as the house lights dim and the spotlight hits the conductor, she throws her arms to the left and the boom of the gong resounds. All around, a drum echoes—1, 2, 1, 2—and then...

I can’t tell you because it’ll ruin your experience. Let’s just put it this way: Last night I saw the stage glowing with the auras of heavenly scenes. I saw the girls dancing, adorned by oceans of silk, and our guys effortlessly flipping and seeming to freeze in mid-air. I got to cry with the audience when we saw the innocent crippled in pain, and I got to laugh with the audience when the little monks pulled a prank.

It was nice to share a moment. 

February 17, 2012