COSTA MESA, California—Orange County supervisor Donald Wagner offered Shen Yun Performing Arts a proclamation, as the classical dance company brought 7 shows to Costa Mesa, California.
Wager serves Orange County’s third district. He represents over 630,000 residents in the local community.
“I’m happy to welcome you to Orange County. And this may be the show that Beijing doesn’t want you to see. But the truth is, we’re—here in Orange County—happy to show it,” said Wagner.
Shen Yun showcases a culture that has been almost lost since communism took over China.
Wagner noted that the Chinese Communist Party’s ideology is one that the West has been opposing for a long time.
“We’re happy to encourage the opportunity to see and for everybody to make their own decisions. I think when you get the opportunity to export freedom, we ought to do it, we appreciate the opportunity to actually see what maybe Beijing doesn’t want us to see,” he said.
Shen Yun’s classical Chinese performance combines many elements, including folk dance and story-based dance, as well as an orchestra blending instruments from East and West. In addition, each performance features over 400 Chinese costumes, all handmade.
“The colors are so beautiful. You come in the middle of winter, you’re like, oh, the colors, everything just comes alive,” said Kathleen Sullivan, a music teacher. “Then to watch the dancing is so … It’s so beautiful. It’s athletic. The storytelling that goes into it. It’s just a balm for my soul.”
The spirituality and traditional values depicted in the performance stood out for her.
“I’m Catholic, but I just love that idea of the presence of the Almighty in our lives and helping us to be better and to help each other and just that connection with that. It’s beautiful.”
“It’s important that what’s good and true is consistent. And we live up to that tradition and goodness is really important. And that we stand up and say that,” she added.
Another audience member also resonated with the spirituality, “I do like the spirituality piece of it, that there’s a greater purpose and a grander purpose for all of us to be here,” said Don McElwee, senior director of Professional Services at Concord.
“So it’s to fulfill that purpose and to do good and to be good. And it’s very powerful,” he said.
“Arts play a really critical role in communicating our humanity. And so I just love to see that development,” said Tim Brodie, senior business systems analyst of Ste-Man, Inc. He noted he has a profound gratitude to Shen Yun’s artists for devoting so much to their craft.
For Shen Yun, six more stops in sunny California. Next on the runlist are Bakersfield and San Luis Obispo.
NTD News, Costa Mesa, California
