Shen Yun Performing Arts arrived at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in California from March 13 to 15. Theatergoers said they were captivated by the revival of 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture–featuring original dance pieces, music, and backdrops.
“The Shen Yun show is trying to show historically, [that] various parts of China have their own intricate style, culture. And expressing it through dance and music, it’s just amazing. It’s very historical. It’s very educational.” said Justin Punzalan, attorney at Ronald Regan UCLA Medical Center.
“A lot of the things that I’m seeing are cultural and historical. And they’re really important, especially for our children. I’ve brought my family with me tonight. And I think it’s really important that children see what’s in our history, not just in the US, but in other countries as well,” said Stefanie Bennett, owner of Bennett Acupuncture.
“I think it was a history lesson. It was really interesting watching stuff that I’ve never seen before and the culture and it was very informative … Just the culture and the history of China, you know, prior to communism, and just the freedom they had and the culture and the tradition,” said Heather LaBow, partner at The Schley Firm.
Shen Yun showcases a wide range of stories ranging from ancient myths and legends to current issues that surround communist China’s persecution of spirituality.
“Nobody should take away your freedom to believe whatever way you want. And I think it’s very noble to believe in God and in the spiritual realm, because that’s really the most important realm that there is. And also, they really are portraying compassion and love. And I think if we had more of that on our planet, we would have a much more peaceful planet.” said Patricia Martin, the pastor at Vineyard Church Laguna Niguel.
“The Creator coming to save the people, I thought this was inspiring given the current climate. There’s so much tension in the world, I think it’s nice to see some unity and be inspired by the performances here,” said Jim Jones, co-founder of Scentbox.
Audience members also pointed to messages of tolerance, perseverance, and fighting for what’s right.
“I got a lot of messages out of that. One is how to persevere. Fight for your territory in your kingdom. Always stand up for what’s right. So a lot of that and for what people have been put through, and how fortunate we all are today. So just to be here, we’re so fortunate but to see what people have persevered through over history’s past in China,” said Scott Haushalter, business owner of West Coast Private Investments, LLC.
Rosalia McKay, the principal of Dominguez Elementary, said she brought all her fifth-grade students to see Shen Yun. Ms McKay praised the performances for the underlying messages of tolerance.
“The message is very much what we teach to our elementary students, to be tolerant—even the last scene that we saw where someone got hurt, and they were helping each other and to accept differences. So it’s exactly what we teach our students.”
Shen Yun will next perform at The Granada Theatre in Santa Barbara, California on March 23 and 24.
Costa Mesa, California
