Pure Energy & Traditional Beauty
In the grand halls at the heart of the Qing Dynasty capital of Beijing, in the palace now known as the Forbidden City, lived young ladies known as gege. The gege (pronounced guh guh) were the imperial princesses and the daughters of the Manchurian aristocracy. Centuries later, they are still revered for their elegance and […]
If you’ve attended a Shen Yun performance, you would have heard a variety of Chinese instruments in our East-meets-West orchestra. Chinese music has a history of at least 5,000 years. How did it all begin? According to legend, the very first Chinese instrument was created by an emperor, with a dragon torso, called Fuxi. Conceived […]
Was perfection possible in the ancient Greek world? If you look at their art, you may think so. Doryphoros (translated from Greek as ‘Spear-Bearer), was a statue created during the 5th century BC. The fine detail for an idealized human anatomy and natural pose of this statue inspired Romans to create several copies and lucky […]
Opera music is usually performed in a theater and set to classical music. For centuries, opera was among the most popular forms of entertainment in Western culture. What Is Opera? Opera is an art form that combines theater (both comedic and dramatic) and classical music. In a typical performance, opera singers play roles in the […]
Yiouvarlakia is a cherished traditional Greek meatball soup brimming with Mediterranean flavor. The broth is hearty and comforting, while the juicy beef and rice meatballs are loaded with savory goodness. These meatballs are kneaded with rice and aromatic herbs, simmered gently in water or chicken stock, and finished with avgolemono, a velvety sauce made from […]
Talent could be anywhere. A family of artists, or a daughter of a miner or taxi-driver. The talent exists, we have to find it. The magnificent, controversial Cuban ballerina Alicia Alonso, who asserted that she would live to 200, died yesterday (17 October 2019 — clarification by uploader) in Havana, aged nearly 99. Legends are […]
How an Indian export became part of the fabric of American life
You may recall the Shen Yun dance in which the ladies of the Manchurian court walk, spin, and leap in their signature elevated shoes. While these “flower pot” shoes are unique, they are far from the only distinguishing trait of the Manchurian ladies. Be it attire or court etiquette, the ladies of the Manchurian Qing […]
Madrid is home to one of the world’s most renowned museums, the Prado. Its crowning jewel is Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez’s near life-size painting “Las Meninas.” Painted in 1656, this artwork is a key masterpiece in the art canon. Since its creation, it has provoked questions about illusion versus reality and art versus […]
Legends say that China’s traditional culture is a gift from the divine. Accordingly, many symbols and motifs found on early Chinese artifacts depict heavenly themes such as gods, fairies, and celestial creatures. And permeating these age-old designs is the traditional principle of harmony between heaven and man. Today, these very motifs have inspired elements of […]
