For Henk Guitjens, an aviation consultant and director of aviation development for Global Elite Group, Shen Yun’s mission to revive China’s 5000-year-old culture hit a chord.
“I think the mission is very good. I think it’s time we have to understand that after 1948, a lot of the things were pushed away and of course different politics, communism coming in,” Guitjens said. He saw Shen Yun at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City on March 17.
In China, communism destroyed almost all traditional beliefs and customs, through a series of campaigns such as the Cultural Revolution.
Shen Yun aims to revive the traditional culture of China and share it with the world.
“I really like the spiritual side of things so when it was talking about in the heavens and that kind of stuff [it] was really interesting to me,” said Tarra Mccarthy, director of development of the non-profit 4th Dimension Recovery Center, who saw Shen Yun in Portland, Oregon on March 17.
“It was beautiful, it was a great expression of how China used to be,” said Richard Esposito, who is on the board of directors at the Heart & Soul Charitable Fund, Inc. He saw Shen Yun in New York City on March 17.
Esposito added that the dance and costumes demonstrated the beauty of China and its people.
Shen Yun can be translated from Chinese to English as “the beauty of divine beings dancing.”
In the past, artists sought guidance from the heavens to create uplifting art.
The artists at Shen Yun follow that noble tradition. Besides rigorous training, they meditate together and strive for self-improvement.
“You can see so much emotion conveyed through their facial expressions, their movements, drive, ambition, just a grace and a softness to them as well as immense strength,” Mccarthy said.
“I really felt that they were very passionate about what they’re doing and just their performance, it was very heartfelt,” said Stacy Dalgarno, a sales executive, who saw Shen Yun in Portland, Oregon.
