Shen Yun Performing Arts returned to New York City on Thursday night after two years due to the pandemic.
“I think it’s a wonderful performance. It’s wonderful,” said professor Richard Joel, President Emeritus of Yeshiva University. “It’s a universal inspiration.”
He saw Shen Yun‘s first performance at the Lincoln Center this year. “The music is wonderful, and the orchestra is wonderful. The singing and the production values are great,” he said.
Shen Yun performed to a packed theater for the first performance. New York city council members and state officials welcomed the performers back with letters and proclamations.
“I could not believe … I thought that somebody put a record or a CD and played it,” said Sam Gonzalez, a Suffolk County legislator. “I knew it was a live orchestra. They were perfect.”
“I’ve been dealing with music for a very, very long time, a little bit over 40 years. And what I heard today was exceptional. So my hat’s off to the maestro and the orchestra.”
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts aims to bring back China’s 5,000 years of culture to the modern stage—through story-based dance and music.
“Simply, simply amazed,” said Gonzalez. “The stories, the storyline, the message, how it really hits you to change.”
Gonzalez welcomed back the performers with a proclamation and said Shen Yun is more than just beautiful.
“It’s a message of the heavens, it’s a message about your beliefs. It’s a message that regardless of what’s out there, hold on—hold on to your love, your faith, and everything will always resolve at the end. If this show was on every day, I think I’d be here every other day,” he added.
Shen Yun’s mission is to revive traditional Chinese culture before the Chinese Communist Party systematically destroys it and replaces it with its own.
“The unique thing about this performance is, it’s art, but it represents real people,” said Assemblyman Phil Ramos.
“It shows how people live, it shows a culture, it shows their roots, it shows thoughts of happiness, the battles they’ve had. And this is something that shouldn’t be hidden because this is what makes us who we are.”
Ramos says Shen Yun brings people together.
“The use of art to put out a message of unity, to educate, to bridge the gap between many people. … It’s using the art to make statements of social justice, it’s something that brings people together,” said Ramos. “It was beautiful to see that happen here today in this show.”
“I felt uplifted by it,” said Joel.
“I think mostly what’s wonderful is the values that are expressed that, for many of us, are universal values,” he added. “The values here are clearly about human dignity and about not being drawn down into the worst part of society, but trying to elevate society. And that’s visible in wonderful ways here.”
Shen Yun will continue to perform at Lincoln Center until March 20.
Gonzalez said he will come back every other night he can and he recommends everyone to come: “If you have not seen the show, you have to come and see the show. And if you’ve seen it already, come and see it again. And remember, every year it’s different.”
NTD News, New York