On Jan. 5, Riga, the capital of Latvia, hosted Shen Yun Performing Arts’ historic debut in a former Soviet Union country. With tickets selling out early, the performance brought 5,000 years of Chinese culture to life, captivating and inspiring the Latvian audience.
Outside the Dailes Theatre, snow blanketed the frozen ground, while inside, a dazzling showcase of traditional culture unfolded on stage. The audience responded with thunderous applause, prompting two curtain calls for the artists.
Latvia has experienced first-hand the suppression of communism. Shen Yun’s mission is to revive China’s cultural heritage, nearly eradicated by the Communist Party since 1949.
Business tycoon Mr. Juris Birznieks described the Shen Yun performance as “very emotional and exciting.” His daughter, Heidija Birzniece, added, “Shen Yun is unlike any other performance I’ve ever seen, and I absolutely loved it!”
Mr. Birznieks admired the talent of Shen Yun’s artists, saying, “Such extraordinary talent can only belong to those who believe in the divine.”
Shen Yun showcases authentic traditional Chinese culture, and both father and daughter said they felt an immense energy emanating from the stage. Mr. Birznieks said, “I could feel the energy,” and expressed his hope that the audience would “stand up to show tribute to the performance!”
Lativan media reported on the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) efforts to block Shen Yun’s performances in Latvia, Mr. Birznieks said, “I’m aware of this, and it’s truly regrettable. Such actions by the CCP are incredibly miserable. I believe China should be proud that these artists are showcasing their culture in such a beautiful way.”
He was especially captivated by the erhu, a traditional Chinese instrument with over 2,000 years of history. He said, “I can’t even describe its beauty in words because I can’t imagine how two strings can produce such rich and profound sounds!”
The final scene, depicting the Creator’s arrival on Earth in a grand and majestic display, deeply moved Mr. Birznieks: “I loved it! I believe the audience couldn’t applaud loudly enough to honor it!”
“I hope they continue doing what they are doing because the performance is truly magnificent,” he said.
Mr. Birznieks is a distinguished Latvian entrepreneur and investor, renowned for his substantial contributions to Latvia’s startup ecosystem. Recognized as one of the nation’s most affluent individuals, he has successfully managed and developed over 10 companies, including a few notable ventures.
“Very beautiful, the colors are stunning, and the dance, of course!” said Ms. Larisa Polosuhina, beaming with delight after attending Shen Yun.
Ms. Polosuhina, ranked among the top ten wealthiest women in Latvia, leads a company that is a market leader in the Baltic region.
Shen Yun is dedicated to reviving authentic traditional Chinese culture from before communism. The group is unable to perform in China due to the CCP’s persecution of their faith. Having visited China many times, Ms. Polosuhina now understands the tense situation there. “Yes, I understand that now,” she said.
Shen Yun conveys the universal values of “Truth, Compassion, and Forbearance” to audiences worldwide.
“I love them, and I love Chinese culture,” she said.
As this was Shen Yun’s first performance in Latvia, Ms. Polosuhina extended a warm welcome to the artists. “I hope they [Shen Yun artists] enjoy our country!” she added.
Arnis Muižnieks, the former director of the Aviation Department of the Ministry of Transport of Latvia, shared his enthusiasm after attending Shen Yun: “I absolutely loved it! It was so colorful, new, and unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.”
“The messages conveyed by the performance were so positive and uplifting!” he added.
Chinese traditional culture, rooted in spiritual cultivation, promotes values such as honesty, kindness, and forbearance to elevate the soul. Shen Yun is dedicated to reviving the essence of this traditional culture and bringing it back to modern society.
Muižnieks expressed his agreement with this mission: “I will always support such ideas. Modern society is indeed in decline; people treat culture like a disposable commodity. If we can return to traditional values in some way, it is truly commendable. This performance undoubtedly contributes to that cause.”
“Especially in today’s world, where more and more people are being influenced by Communist China, this performance reminds us that traditional China was something entirely different,” he said.
Shen Yun’s presentation of traditional Chinese culture, free from Communist Party influence, also brought back memories of Muižnieks’ past negotiations on aviation agreements with delegations from mainland China and Taiwan. He said he was “very surprised” by the contrast between the two groups—one shaped by communist ideology and the other not.
“I am so glad I came, and I will absolutely recommend it to everyone!” he said.
Former Miss Latvia Dina Kolondarova and Mr. Raimonds Ozols attended the Shen Yun performance together, marveling at the artistry of the performers. Kolondarova, crowned Miss Latvia in 1999, remains elegant more than 20 years later.
As a professional dancer, Ozols said: “I really love the art form of classical Chinese dance. The choreography incorporates many high-level jumps and flips, making it more dynamic and expressive.”
Kolondarova agreed: “Their artistry is outstanding, absolutely flawless, and incredibly impressive.”
What touched Kolondarova the most were the vibrant Tibetan dance and the flowing water sleeve dance. “I loved their synchronization,” she said. She added that she could feel the “divinely inspired” culture and said, “The technical aspects were also fantastic.”
Kolondarova sent her message for Shen Yun’s artists: “I hope they continue this mission and keep inspiring everyone.”
Reporting by Mary Man.
From The Epoch Times
