BUENOS AIRES, Argentina—With a last performance on June 14 at the Opera Allianz Theater in Buenos Aires, Shen Yun Performing Arts’ inaugural tour of “The Monkey King” in Latin America came to a close. Argentine director Mario Martinez, who has seen Shen Yun every time it visits Buenos Aires, said “It’s something that’s just perfect. ” Referring to the Shen Yun dancers, he added, “They’re deities, they’re divine.”
The performances in Buenos Aires were all well received, as were the performances in other stops of the tour which began on May 8, with stops in Mexico City, City of Medellín in Colombia, and Argentina’s San Miguel de Tucumán.
New York-based Shen Yun’s “The Monkey King” tells the story of the mischievous Monkey King and his friends, characters from the classic Chinese novel “Journey to the West.” “Beyond mere entertainment, ‘Journey to the West’ is also a metaphor for spiritual cultivation,” explains Shen Yun’s website.
“The Monkey can be seen as representing the ’monkey mind,' a mind of unruly thoughts that need to be reined in. Yet despite the disciples’ shortcomings, each is offered forgiveness and redemption. And the ordeals they face—from conquering fear to resisting temptation—represent the trials and tribulations one must overcome along a spiritual path.”
Mr. Martinez said he could see this spirituality in the performance. He said he finds it hard to explain his experience with words, describing the performance as truly unique. “I tell you the truth, you can feel it in your heart,” he said.
“It awakened me … every part they did, it was real as if watching a movie. I could identify with each one of the dancers ... it’s like being there … truly alive.”
Struggle Between Good and Evil
