Shen Yun is touring the globe with 8 troops simultaneously. Audiences are saying they appreciate the beauty of the performance.
“Really enjoy the performance. Enjoy the music, the dancing, the story, the singing, the instrumentalists, it was all really, really captivating,” said Darren Coish, who is a director of talent acquisition at IQVIA. He saw Shen Yun in Spartanburg, South Carolina, on March 25.
“I love Shen Yun!” said actor Retro Bill, who has seen Shen Yun multiple times before. This year, he saw Shen Yun in San Luis Obispo, California, on March 26. “Fantastic! All across the board, everything, the orchestra, absolutely on point, the soloist, amazing. The dancers, the joy, the time and the effort that’s put into their choreography and their dance. It’s amazing.”
Beat Jans is a member of the National Council of Switzerland who saw Shen Yun in Basel, Switzerland, on March 26. He said having Shen Yun perform in Basel was a great honor: “It is exciting. It is a beautiful, traditional culture with enormous artistic power.”
“I can’t remember ever seeing anything so perfect,” said musician Samuel Staffelbach who saw Shen Yun in Basel, Switzerland, on March 24.
“Wonderful. Discipline, strength, and at the same time the softness they bring to us. It was a very nice show, invigorating, after a day of work. You can get here at night and live it all, and go home. Happy, peaceful, and at peace,” said Estela Endlich, who saw Shen Yun in Curitiba, Brazil, on March 24. She is the secretary of education of Curitiba.
Audience members took notes of Shen Yun’s mission: to bring back China’s 5,000 years of traditional culture before communism.
“I think we are all trying to find our histories and bring them forward. And I think Shen Yun trying to do that and share with everybody and give the education for everybody to know. The history is really important,” said Erica A. Stewart, the mayor of San Luis Obispo.
“I think this is indeed a very arduous task,” said Chiu Tai-san, who saw Shen Yun in Taipei, Taiwan, on March 25. He is the minister of the Mainland Affairs Council. “We are also grateful to Shen Yun for such persistence over the years. On such a road, especially when we compare it to mainland China, it is true that because of communism, Chinese culture has been greatly affected, with great damage and challenges. I think this is really necessary that some people can come and restore it. I think this is very meaningful and very important work.”
Theatergoers said the value shown in the performance resonated with them.
“The important thing for me is the combination of beauty and spirituality that draws me here. I felt that a lot,” Mr. Staffelbach said. “I think it is unique in that I haven’t seen any in other music performances [like it]. After all, I am from the music industry.”
“You guys brought different types of traditional stories, and the contextual issues now of our time. So this all articulates with Brazilian culture too,” Ms. Endlich said.
“I think performances like this, bringing artistry like this, an excellence like this to a stage here in South Carolina really gives us hope. It’s another bridge to build relationships between cultures,” Mr. Coish said.
“I love that Shen Yun is filled with joy. But it’s also fearless. But all told from compassion and kindness. And I think that’s beautiful. And I think there are a lot of people who, after they experience this, will have an even better appreciation for Chinese culture and history, as well as I think they’re going to leave thinking about faith and being a better human,” Mr. Bill said. He recommends people to see Shen Yun: “Anybody that’s into music history, faith, should come and see Shen Yun, it’s a must. I mean, nobody is going to leave disappointed. I can guarantee you that you will leave wanting to see it again.”
“Thank you so much for sharing your art. Coming here and sharing with San Luis Obispo the beauty and all of your hard work,” Ms. Stewart said.
Shen Yun presents new performances every year. The company will tour through May.
NTD News, New York
