SAN FRANCISCO—Carol Smith, president of a conservative women’s club in Novato, California, brought a party of 18 people to see Shen Yun on Jan. 4 at the War Memorial Opera House.
“I will do everything I can to support [Shen Yun],” Mrs. Smith said.
It was her third time. She said she was touched by the historical significance of Shen Yun Performing Arts.
“I cried the whole time. I’m still so emotional because that’s how we grew up. That’s my culture, and it’s my treasure, and I grew up with it, and it’s always with me,” she said, who also came with her husband Joseph Smith, a trust attorney.
“It’s more than just a story and an entertainment. It has a real deeper meaning that I think you take away from the show,” said Mr. Smith.
Jackie Simons, who used to work in the leasing and management field, said the performers were amazing, as she kept gasping during the performance.
“I just kept taking my breath. It was just so beautiful,” said Ms. Simons.
Former figure skater Jennymay Wardwell brought her young daughter to the theater. Ms. Wardwell said she can tell there’s “discipline and grace and power behind each move.”
“If you notice the way they turn their head, the way they flick their wrist, the pointing of the fingers, nothing is out of place,” she said.
Everything has so much detail and precision, she added.
James Zimmerman, a dancer, called the experience of seeing Shen Yun unbelievable.
“It’s the performance of a lifetime because you see the incredible posture, balance, gracefulness, agility, flexibility of the dancers, and they’re in unison, which is really tough,” he said.
Former English professor Marshall Burgamy was aweing at some of the jumps from the men.
“I’ve seen Russian ballet and American ballet, but this is incredibly sophisticated. I mean the jumps are amazing,” he said.
The New York-based company’s goal is to revive 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture through dance and music. From legends to myths—it also portrays the current persecution of faith in China, where Shen Yun isn’t allowed to perform.
Mrs. Smith said the nonprofit’s mission is a ‘wonderful way’ to spread Chinese culture, as well as spread awareness about the Chinese Communist Party.
“How horrible they are,” she said.
“I am really, really sad about Chinese people in China don’t get to see beautiful culture and beautiful dancing like this,” said Mrs. Smith.
Mrs. Simons said, “I think the show really told us exactly what’s happening, how it’s affecting the people.”
“We’re very sorry for that. But the show, the music, the coordination, everything was just fabulous,” she said.
Linda Gibbons-Brown, a former police supervisor in San Mateo County, said she’s glad that Shen Yun is “bringing back that very basic Chinese culture from so many years ago where life was so much easier.”
“I pray that the mission is successful,” she said.
Reporting by David Lam.
NTD News, San Francisco, California
NTD News and The Epoch Times are proud sponsors of Shen Yun Performing Arts and have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.
