BERKELEY, Calif.—Theatergoers in Berkeley, California, enjoyed Shen Yun’s classical Chinese dance performance.
“Oh, it’s absolutely wonderful. I know we’re only halfway through, but just the costumes, the singing, the message, and, of course, the physical ability of the artists is just absolutely incredible,” said Mr. William Ashton, operations executive in the consumer goods industry.
Mr. Owen Walsh, senior director at a high-tech company, said: “I thought the acrobatics were incredible. I really like seeing all the flips, and the tumbles, and the spins. It’s kind of mesmerizing.”
“I wanted to keep peeking up and seeing them play their instruments. It was kind of exciting to know that it was live, and these guys do all of this work, and it’s not recorded. They’re performing,” said Mr. Damon Weatherly, key principal at BoDean Company.
Opera singer and writer Jill Enders was impressed with the vocalists.
“The baritone really blew me away,” Ms. Enders said.
“His vocal line was seamless from start to finish. It was just one voice. It was really beautiful,” she said.
While reviving genuine traditional culture, the New York company also depicts the ongoing persecution carried out by the Chinese regime.
“It’s a sad scene, actually. It was very touching, and so a better understanding of what’s happening in another part of the world right now,” said Mr. Kevin Lunde, senior environmental scientist at SF Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board.
“I love it. It was very emotional. I was kind of even crying a little bit. It’s very touching,” said Mr. Clint Griess, consultant and owner of his coaching business.
“The enormous scope of the Chinese culture for thousands of years and of course the story about the Falun practitioner. It was very sad,” Mr. Griess said.
Patrons said they felt hopeful walking out of the performance.
“I feel that it was moving, it was inspirational, it had a great message, the dancing was spectacular, and those girls can move like feathers,” said Ms. Marisa Balfour, who runs a custom outdoor kitchens business.
“All of it reflects a Creator, doesn’t it? All that beauty, and grace, and the flowers the scenery, the ability of these dancers to express it. It all leads back to a Creator, so we were very, very happy to see that,” said Ms. Julie Wright, producer of the Jack Wright Show.
Attorney and writer John Lacklen said he walked away from the performance feeling “that the human soul is capable of sustaining hope even in times of great peril.”
NTD News, California
