Shen Yun Performing Arts delighted audiences in Tucson, Arizona, on Feb. 11 and 12.
Among the audience was Larry M. Henley, owner of a real estate company. “It’s really classy. The dancers are fabulous. All the wardrobes are just sensational. I mean, how could you not like it? It’s really, really nice.” He said.
Sahuarita town manager Shane Dille said: “Rich in culture, beautiful colors, graceful dancing. I really enjoy the message.”
“It’s steeped in culture and tradition, and it’s really … I was really enjoying watching the dancing and performance, the professionalism that these dancers are putting into. I mean, they are actually athletes who dance,” said retired Lt. Col. Kent Hinchcliff.
“The performers are top-notch. Those are some top-notch professionals. They really have some great skills and you can really tell that there’s a lot of time and effort and energy put into what they do. They did some pretty amazing things. We had a lot of ‘wow’ moments. When we were watching the show, we were just looking at each other, and ‘wow, did you see what they just did?’” said dance teacher and choreographer Annette Mesa.
Through classical Chinese dance and original orchestral music, Shen Yun brings thousands of years of Chinese civilization to life on stage, a time before communism sought to wipe out the nation’s traditional culture.
Mr. Hinchcliff said: “I think the mission is wonderful, so we can see what the culture actually was before the current government started to destroy it back in the 40s. Just the traditions that the Chinese people had, and how they enjoyed their entertainment, their beliefs, their culture, these are things that I think the people can learn by coming to this. And it piques our curiosity so you want to learn more and find out just what Chinese culture is actually about.”
Mr. Dille added, “loyalty to tradition, passion for your culture. You just sensed it in the dance. Obviously, it’s apparent in the energy that you feel in the dancing that the message is strong in the heart of the people that are performing. So I appreciate that.”
Company director Enrique Davis-Mazlum said: “I think expressions that are using tolerance are very important to express feelings, right? It’s a different way of saying we don’t agree with what’s happening, but it’s a very intelligent way.”
Microbiologist Isadora Sholaas enjoyed the performance. “Full of joy, full of beauty, full of music and art. Everything from the crafts, dance, and storytelling, and amazing costumes. I really wish that my superpower, if I could have a superpower, [would] be to time travel. And I would love to see ancient China.”
She said she was moved to tears. “I cried after about the second song, because it’s just so beautiful to see. And I think about the five thousand years of dynasties, and I think about the people in China now. I really feel that they should have the privilege to enjoy their birthright, their entire history, so incredibly beautiful. There’s no other culture that can compare.”
She continued: “I really thought again about all of the material purchases I make from China right now. And I did some traveling a couple of years ago, and I had to go through China, and I will say that it was the saddest time of my vacation. Because the people seemed very unhappy, very unhappy. No smile could bring joy to them. They were struggling just to live every day. And I felt that very strongly … I still believe in the power of humanity and culture. But I understand that right now in China perhaps those ideas of a Godless world are being used against humanity. And I think that’s unfair.”
Others said the performance inspired them.
Retired U.S. Marine Gary Cisneros said: “each singing would change the mood of the feeling and flow of emotion. You have joy, you have peace, you have, for the most part, excitement, and laughter at the same time. So when you feel all the emotions, it brings it all together … I love the fact that they bring back wholeness to the heart. There’s too much anger in the world, and this brings back the beauty of what it’s supposed to be like. There’s hope, I honestly believe there’s hope. Because the art that brings it back, it shows the story of what it can still be.”
Geospatial analyst Fernando Ferrer said: “that was something inspiring as well, something that every culture also has some idea of who the creator is, that’s something that … I guess we all share the same message as well, that somebody just created this earth for us, and we have to cherish it, and we just have to protect it as well.”
Ms. Mesa added: “I really did enjoy the spiritual aspect of the show … I welcome that. I didn’t expect that. Here we don’t know a lot about communism and what people go through in other countries. But to see that there was a message of hope is really the way I looked at it. I felt like there’s a message of hope coming from God. And I just really enjoyed that part and I am really glad that was something that was included in this part of the show.”
For the rest of February, Shen Yun will be touring in Texas, Wisconsin, California, and other states across the country.
NTD News, Tucson, Arizona
