BOISE, Idaho—Dance teacher Josie Akre and her husband Levi attended Shen Yun for the first time at the Morrison Center for the Performing Arts the evening of Feb. 18.
“It’s everything I was hoping for and more,” she exclaimed. “I loved how uplifting it was and how they’ve brought in such a spiritual element. Their ability to portray emotion is amazing and their technical skill is incredible!”
What struck Mrs. Akre as she sat watching the performance was that “there should be no limit on movement or movement potential. [Shen Yun dancers] have really tapped into using every possible way they can to express with their bodies.”
According to Shen Yun’s website, the classical Chinese dance performed in China today is heavily mixed with military and modern dance styles. Only at Shen Yun can you find it performed in its purest form—the way it was originally passed down through the generations.
As a fellow dancer, Mrs. Akre understood above all else the level of dedication it took to create such a production.
“A lot of work. So much time and practice, but I think they believe in what they’re doing. They have mastered their bodies and expressions [to establish] connection with people,” she said.
“It means so much to them—you can tell as you see them dance—it’s a huge part of who they are and how they express themselves.”
For Mrs. Akre, this was definitely a surprise. “The belief that we are all divine and we came from the heavens is so close to my heart. I had no idea that [Chinese people] believed that too,” she said. “It makes me feel a connection—we are all united with a similar goal and vision for good.”
“It’s pretty bold nowadays to have something come across the screen that denounces atheism or Darwinism,” he said. “The fact that they stand up for that [and tell] people that we come from a place of divinity—the message is really to help us out, to tell us who we really are. I think that’s a big deal for everyone.”
However, what made Mr. Akre the happiest throughout the performance was seeing the smile on his wife’s face.
“She’s like a little kid opening Christmas presents. But in a way, seeing her so excited showed me what [Shen Yun] is really portraying and giving to people. I had a tough time just holding my emotions in. It touched me that they cared.”
“I’m glad that someone out there is trying to do as good a job as [Shen Yun] is. I’m grateful for all the hard work they’ve put in. It comes across and I think the whole audience enjoyed it.”
