Audience members watching Shen Yun Performing Arts on March 21 in Salt Lake City, Utah, were impressed with its ability to educate and entertain at the same time.
“Very well done, very professional, extremely artistic, visually stunning, and wholesome,” said Jeremy Thompson, a dentist.
“I like how it’s going through the different regions in China and showing the different elements,” said Jasen Mikels, CTO of Limitless Society.
“I just noticed how they’re all on key,” said Coy Call, president of Stonebridge Excavation Inc. “In one of the last couple performances, all the girls, they have the things in their hands, and they’re just spinning with them and all. They’re just all on key. It’s just waves. It’s just perfect.”
“I love the fact that there’s a group not afraid to go against some forces that maybe would not want this to be out, and the fact that they’re doing this, I think it’s great,” said Shanon Brooks, president of Monticello College. “I think it’s great for freedom, for liberty, and for a culture. I think it’s awesome.”
Shen Yun aims to show the beauty of 5,000 years of Chinese culture. It also includes story pieces that raise awareness of the persecution of faith under the Chinese Communist Party.
“That was blended in very nicely and subtly, not too heavy. And it’s something that we all need to be aware of. It really is,” said Sandra Phillips, owner of Wizard Inventors.
“There were some times I started to cry because you realize that there is so much conflict in the world,” said Jacob Siebach, a software engineer at Brigham Young University. “And there’s so many good people that are going through that now and have gone through that in history. And we get to be the beneficiaries of sitting in a beautiful place and watching this fantastic production. And while there are so many people that are struggling and that don’t even understand that there are people out there who are hoping and praying for their deliverance and that they get to enjoy something like this someday and enjoy the beauties that God has created.”
“I think it’s a real shame that some of that heritage has been lost. I think it’s great that everybody tries to bring any of it back and share it with the world,” said Brian Hayward, logistics manager with the U.S. Department of the Army.
According to the website, Shen Yun means the beauty of divine beings dancing. Through story-based dance, Shen Yun draws inspiration from China’s divinely inspired culture.
“[The] actual word Shen Yun means that. And it definitely comes out of every performance, that they are trying to bring something heavenly here to Earth for us to enjoy. And it feels like a little bit of heaven has come to visit us,” said Mr. Thompson.
“I love the way that it references that everything comes back to God,” said Mr. Siebach. “And that we have been sent here with a divine mission and purpose and that everybody works in their own ways and good always triumphs in the end over darkness and evil and hate and anger and shame. There is goodness, and there is hope.”
“It’s a beautiful performance. It’s from the heart,” said Mr. Call. “I can tell that they put their heart and soul into the performance.”
“It was uplifting. It was just how beautiful it was,” said Mr. Brooks. “It just makes you walk out of here and just want to go do good things.”
NTD News, Salt Lake City, Utah
