WORCESTER, Massachusetts—Sitting in The Hanover Theatre and watching Shen Yun Performing Arts for the first time on Jan. 13 were Carlos Alvarado, a senior director at a communications company, and his wife, Ida Alvarado, a nurse.
“Oh my god, it’s transporting me,” said Mrs. Alvarado. “I feel like I’m in heaven. It’s so beautiful. It’s amazing. I feel happy—I feel complete.”
“It is eye-opening,” said Mr. Alvarado. “It’s very moving.”
Shen Yun’s program includes story-based dances, some of which are based in modern-day China and depict the Chinese communist regime’s persecution of followers of faith. Mr. Alvarado felt that the spiritual elements of traditional Chinese culture that Shen Yun displayed were incredibly fulfilling.
“It’s shameful that people are not allowed to believe the way that they want to believe,” he said. “That people are punished for believing in the old ways is sad.”
“It keeps us thinking of the way it was—and what’s going on right now,” added Mrs. Alvarado. “The whole thing about not believing, [that] we have lost our way. So this is eye-opening in terms of what we should do. Going back to our roots, our traditions, our spiritual [well-being].”
Mr. Alvarado also shared that he agreed with the messages in the lyrics to the songs performed in the traditional bel canto style.
‘We All Have a Divine Purpose in Life’
Also in the audience was Janet White, a business owner and motivational coach. Ms. White shared she had an interest in the “original history of China, and the importance of teaching the historical and cultural aspect of the country.”
She said that the message she saw in Shen Yun’s performance was the same as what she shared with her clients: “Never give up, always find a way to overcome obstacles, and keep your heart positive.”
“I feel that we all have a divine purpose in life, and we all have a reason for being here, and [even] if someone tries to take that away from us, we still have a purpose.”
Shen Yun’s performance depicts the traditional Chinese belief in the divine, and in the opening piece, divine beings follow the Creator down to earth to establish Chinese civilization. Ms. White said that seeing the Creator portrayed on stage made her feel peaceful and purposeful.
“I wasn’t expecting that aspect to Shen Yun, and I just felt like the Creator did send us all here for a purpose,” said Ms. White. “I was really touched that they did not avoid addressing the negative that is here on the earth. I feel like it’s going the wrong way, and we have to fight to keep things good and pure.”
Ms. White also expressed her admiration toward and gratitude for the performers.
“I was so overwhelmed with love and really uplifted by the message of perseverance and courage,” she said.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.
