FRESNO, Calif.—Shen Yun Performing Arts received six letters of recognition from public officials in Fresno for reviving genuine Chinese culture.
Over the weekend of Jan. 28, audience members experienced a China before communism at the William Saroyan Theatre.
Radio Host of Kingdom Talk Dennis McCourt said: “I think people in California, I think people throughout the United States And around the world need to be standing for these principles against tyranny, against communism. To stand for truth, compassion, and forbearance. This is what we, as humans, all want.”
Darren Holden, owner of Go-In All Electric, believes that there’s a good part of the world that that message is still in as well.
“Regardless of you know communism, regardless of dictators—it doesn’t matter. There’s still a good heart out there that believes in a good foundational value,” Holden said.
“There’s still a good heart out there that believes in a good foundational value.”
The New York-based Shen Yun was established in 2006, with a mission to reclaim a lost heritage through dance and live orchestra combining Western and Chinese instruments.
Richard Garoogian, a pianist, applauded the “precision of the orchestra” and called the performance beautiful.
“The spirituality which came through to me is that no matter what darkness we experience in this world, the sun will come up again just as surely as the sun rises every day and you just have to believe, no matter what it will come through,” Garoogian said.
Jeremy Lusk, attorney at Law Offices of Lusk & Gong, Inc., said “[Shen Yun] was fascinating. The history that was explained before every performance And the amazing history that China had, I did not realize.”
Ed Soliven, who works in the medical field at Adventist Health, called it beautiful.
“Especially the opening scene—was just like a picture. It was very nice,” Soliven said.
Other members of the audience shared their takeaways from the performance.
“The points of joy, the points of emotional tear—everything was easily followed and so far, thoroughly enjoyed it. Thoroughly enjoyed the show,” said Ron Rustigian, a nuclear medicine technologist (CNMT).
“You come out appreciating selflessness. Those performers have spent a lifetime getting to this point, and then the message of selflessness throughout the performance resonates,” said Tom Nichols, vice chair of the Libertarian Party of Fresno County.
“I started to tear up a couple of times,” Nichols said.
“I didn’t know about the different gods that came into this world and how—what their peaceful mission was to bring in peace and joy and to combat, really evilness. I didn’t know that. I thought that was so inspiring,” said Fernando Banuelos, politician and former school board member at Parlier Unified School District.
Adam Sterio, owner of Ace Janitorial LLC, watched the performance with Melanie Verburg.
“You know, modern ways are kind of deteriorating. The divine connection, and that’s very important. If we lose that divine connection, I think we’re in a lot of trouble. That’s what I took away from it,” Sterio said.
“I am just going to tell everybody I know about this show, that they need to see it,” said Verburg, owner and operator at J&M Farming & Enterprises.
NTD News, Fresno, California
