Every year since 2006, New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts creates 20 brand new dances for a brand new show. That also means fresh musical compositions and 400 original costumes.
"We want people to come back every year," said co-emcee Leeshai Lemish, who has been with one of the three touring troupes since the organization's 2006 launch. "And we have 5,000 years of Chinese history to draw from. There's no shortage of material."
The show returns to Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre this weekend.
While most of the stories conveyed are spiritual in nature, a few have political overtones. "Our choreographer and director are not afraid to bring up human rights issues," Lemish said.
Indeed, the organization follows Falun Gong -- also called Falun Dafa -- a practice of Buddhist self-cultivation, which features exercises and meditation. The Chinese government outlawed the movement in 1999, and followers in China say they've been detained and tortured over the years.
Seven Shen Yun shows scheduled for Hong Kong were nixed in early 2010 when visas for several of its key technical staff were denied at the last second, according to Shen Yun. (China has sovereignty over Hong Kong.)
Any political aspects of the show are not apparent in the Shen Yun billboards or brochures. But Lemish said they don't hide from the Falun Gong connection.
On the group's Atlanta website it's clear local shows are presented by the Falun Dafa Association of Atlanta, though it doesn't explain what that is. "If people ask us," Lemish said, "we'll talk about it."
He said many Chinese from the mainland have seen the show in cities such as Vancouver and San Francisco. "I get emails from mainland China supporting us," he said.
Ultimately, Lemish said, the show tries to infuse viewers with hope, wonder and inspiration.
Most of the cast is ethnic Chinese. Lemish, though, is an American-born Jew who has studied in Hong Kong and China and speaks Mandarin.
"I just feel love for Chinese culture and language," he said.
Concert preview
Shen Yun Performing Arts
7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
$61.10 to $215.35 after fees. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta. 770-916-2800, www.cobbenergycentre.com.
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