Shen Yun Tour Coming to the Benedum

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:  Frank Zhong / 413-222-7448 / frank.zhong@ntdtv.com

Shen Yun Performing Arts presents
World's Top Classical Chinese Dancers
Original Live Music by the Shen Yun Orchestra
Animated Backdrops & Exquisite Costumes
February 1-3, 2013, Benedum Center

Pittsburgh, PA:  Millions of people have seen Shen Yun. Standing ovations at the world's top venues, royalty attending in Europe, sold-out shows throughout North America, and packed houses across Asia have made Shen Yun an international phenomenon. With an elite company of dancers, singers, and musicians, the New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts will bring their new tour to the Benedum Center from February 1-3, 2013, with breathtaking classical Chinese dance and a live orchestra. Shen Yun Performing Arts performances feature breathtaking choreography, powerful musical scores, and state-of-the-art backdrops. It is sure to be an unforgettable experience that everyone will enjoy!

Performances for Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Benedum Center are Friday, February 1, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, February 2, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, February 3, 2:30 p.m.  Tickets start as low as $53.25 and are now on sale at www.Trustarts.org, by phone (412) 456-6666, in-person: Theater Square Box Office, 655 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh's Cultural District.

Shen Yun was founded in 2006 with the mission of reviving "the essence of 5000 years of Chinese culture", which it asserts to have been nearly demolished by the Chinese Communist government. The company's performers practice the Falun Gong (Falun Dafa) spiritual discipline, and performances around the world are hosted by local Falun Dafa Associations. The Shen Yun performances at the Benedum Center are presented by the Greater Philadelphia Falun Dafa Association.

The group has three performing arts companies: The New York Company, The Touring Company, and the International Company, and features over 200 performers. For seven months a year, Shen Yun Performing Arts tours to over 130 cities across Europe, North America, Oceania, and Asia. Each touring company consists of approximately 60 male and female dancers, and large-scale group dance is at the center of Shen Yun productions.  The orchestra features some of China's most outstanding performing artists, including flutist Ningfang Chen, erhuist Mei Xuan and tenor Guan Guimin - who are recipients of the Chinese Ministry of Culture’s “National First Class Performer” awards. Prior to joining Shen Yun, Guan Guimin was well known in China for his work on soundtracks for over 50 movies and television shows.

Inspired by the spirit of ancient culture, Shen Yun Performing Arts brings to life classical Chinese dance and music in a gloriously colorful and exhilarating show. Its masterful choreography and graceful routines range from grand classical processions to ethnic and folk dances, with gorgeously costumed dancers moving in stunning synchronized patterns. Based on ancient heroic legends and modern courageous tales, Shen Yun and its breathtaking beauty are not to be missed!

For more information, please visit www.ShenYun2013.org

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Silk Road Acrobats from China Perform in Pittsburgh

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Today's date: October 3, 2011


Silk Road Acrobats

October 16-23, 2011 at various venues throughout the region

Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater, a division of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, presents the Pittsburgh premiere of Silk Road Acrobats from China, October 16-23, 2011, at six performance locations throughout the area. Performance locations include: City: Byham Theater, October 16 at 2:00 p.m. & Student Matinee: October 17 at 10:15 a.m.; East: Gateway High School, October 19 at 7:00 p.m.; North: Marshall Middle School, October 20 at 5:30 & 7:30 p.m.; West: Moon Area High School, October 21 at 7:00 p.m.; South: Mt Lebanon High School, October 22 at 11:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m.; and Butler: Seneca Valley Senior High School, October 23 at 2:00 p.m.

Citizens Bank is the season sponsor of Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater.

A fusion of ancient and Chinese acrobatics and modern dance, the Silk Road Acrobats, from the Uyghur region in northwestern China, inspire audiences with precision, grace, and thrilling choreography. The music emulates the hard/soft, strong/weak interpretation of the Yin Yang (Dark / Light and Female/ Male) in Chinese culture and proudly preserves an ancient tradition as important to Chinese culture as song and dance. As their name suggests, the ancient art of these performers began with traveling acrobats who performed along the famous Silk Road, the most well-known trading route of ancient Chinese civilization. The 7000-mile route spanned China, Central Asia, Northern India, and the Parthian and Roman Empires, connected the Yellow River Valley to the Mediterranean Sea, and passed through present-day countries Iran, Iraq and Syria. In the late Ming Dynasty and the early Qing Dynasty, acrobatics was introduced abroad and was highly appreciated by the Americans and the Europeans.

Chinese acrobatics demands years of dedication and rigorous practice, sometimes with aspiring youngsters beginning their training as early as four or five years old. Sonny Soohoo, the creative director of the Silk Road Acrobats, began his career at the age of 12 and was trained by the famous Jiang Yanjing of the Shenyang Acrobatics Troupe. In 2004, he began coordinating and directing talent for everything from theatre shows to corporate events and has since produced, directed, choreographed, and stage managed hundreds of shows. The performers range in age from Sonny, who is 32, down to Enkhmurun Sodnumpunsum, who, at 14, is the show’s Mongolian contortionist, and has performed over 1000 shows since beginning her career at age 6.

The Silk Road Acrobats show is a high energy, tinged with danger, action-packed extravaganza that has audiences of all ages at the edge of their seats, as China’s gifted tumblers juggle, cycle, contort and flip across the stage. Vignettes can include: Hoop Diving, Plate Spinning, Candelabra Contortion, Happy Chef, Hula Hoop Contortion, Straw Hat Juggling, Handkerchief Spinning, Pole Diving, Mongolian Contortion, and of course the famous Lion Dance. This fifty minute performance is recommended for the entire family.
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