Shen Yun returned to the Baton Rouge River Center Theatre on Jan. 11 and 12. Audience members praised the New York-based company for showcasing China before communism through classical Chinese dance and music.
Among the audience was the Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sid Edwards. Mr. Edwards said Shen Yun “was absolutely exhilarating. It was beautiful. Quite a performance. I just came away so impressed and so happy that my family and I got to experience this.”
Ken Aime, a co-owner of HomePros General Contracting said: “I think it’s very important to maintain our heritage from all of our different cultures. So it’s beautiful that they’re putting all this together to maintain that culture throughout the ages.”
Jamee Lemmler, the vice president banking center manager at Business First Bank said: “It was absolutely amazing. It was beautiful. The colors were just outstanding. I mean, every time somebody came out, I mean, the dancers came out, we commented about how beautiful the colors were on the costumes.”
“The synchronization is like no other. I can only imagine how hard they had to work and practice to be able to coordinate so well together. So it’s actually beautiful, and it gives a lot of insight on Chinese culture during that time and then modern days,” said Shalyric Self, a communications director at the office of Louisiana state Rep. Cleo Fields.
Shen Yun draws inspiration from China’s history, presenting stories from ancient legends and folk tales that have values deeply rooted in spirituality. The company also shines a light on modern day communist China’s persecution of spirituality.
Mr. Edwards said: “I think it’s courageous, and I think it’s important, and I think that story needs to be told for people to be educated and learn and see how it is in different areas, different cultures, different nations. And what a beautiful way to put that out there.”
“I think that’s fantastic. Everybody should stand for what they believe in, and if you get persecuted for it, just stand more firm than what you believe in,” said Duane Davis the owner of Positive Direction Recovery Resources.
“My understanding is that they have very strong spiritual beliefs and they’re not allowed to practice their beliefs,” said Brian Eleser, an offshore installation manager at Shell.
Edward Baker, a partner at Executive Hotel Management said: “I think it’s very important that we see all persecution of religion as something we all need to stand up for each other, and we have a hard time in this country understanding that the persecution of religion at all. So it’s very moving, and it’s very important that the American people and the world stand up against this kind of abuse.”
Ken Aime added: “I think that it’s great to bring something like that, especially to America, because in America, there is no persecution. So Americans really don’t have an idea what that’s like to be persecuted for your beliefs. So, but it does happen, obviously, around the world, and I think it’s great that they bring it to light and they show people from around the world what it means to be persecuted just for your beliefs.”
Through each performance, audience members took note of the message of kindness and peace.
“I think it’s an extremely important message,” said Thomas Davenport an attorney at the Davenport Firm, APLC. “Kindness should be the fundamental, the fundamental foundation, I would say, of all things, if we’re just kind of people, imagine how the world would be. Just imagine that people wouldn’t go hungry, they wouldn’t go without. And now the world has kind of, in some ways, turned very cold and bitter, and we used to be a kinder, gentler place.”
Shalyric Self added: “we need more things like this in our community, so that people can that emotion can be awakened in people. And so that would be the thing that I would share with them. It promotes world peace. And I feel like a lot of us can take something from this show and apply it to our everyday lives.”
Shen Yun is headed to the Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts in Greensboro, North Carolina on Jan. 15.
NTD News, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
NTD is a media sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts.
