WATERBURY, Conn.—Two members of the Loiseau family teach math and physics, but scientific reasoning took a back seat as they experienced the beauty and discerned the spirituality of Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Palace Theater on March 8.
Heidi Loiseau, a physics professor at Southern Connecticut State University, found the show “very spiritual.” She saw Shen Yun explore themes like “the search for higher morals, the search for a connection with god, and returning to heaven.”
“I thought the whole show was so artistic, and a very interesting part of the culture was displayed in several of the acts,” Ms. Loiseau said.
Shen Yun is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance company with a mission to revive the traditional spiritual culture which is nearly lost in China. That was something Ms. Loiseau’s father, Roger Loiseau, a former math professor, experienced as well.
“I have discovered that there is quite a lot of history associated with 5,000 years of culture,” Mr. Loiseau said.
Through original orchestral music and dance, Shen Yun revives ancient tales from China’s 5,000 years of divinely inspired culture. The culture has been nearly lost in China, where the Chinese Communist Party has nearly eradicated it through successive campaigns since the 1950s. Shen Yun’s performances revive the culture that inspired Chinese people for millennia and bring it to audiences worldwide.
“I think it should be shown in all the major cities in the United States, and I think history professors, or Chinese culture professors should encourage their students to go or have field trips with the students and study Chinese culture,” Mr. Loiseau said.
Spiritual Beginnings
Like his daughter, Mr. Loiseau’s wife, Alma Loiseau, also felt Shen Yun’s spirituality.
“It is just so beautiful, you know, it is like something from God,” Ms. Loiseau said. Somebody, whoever did this, had to be inspired by God to do something so beautiful.”
The inspiration for Shen Yun’s artists does have a spiritual beginning, according to the company’s website.
“Throughout history almost every culture looked toward the divine for inspiration. Art was meant to uplift, bringing joy to both the people who created and experienced it,” the Shen Yun website states. “Today, Shen Yun’s artists—dancers, musicians, choreographers, composers, and the entire team—follow this noble tradition.”
Ms. Alma Loiseau said that she used to think that all Chinese people are serious, but found the beauty that the show brought to be wonderful.
“If we have enough shows like this going around the world there would be more love and less hatred,” Ms. Alma Loiseau said. “Because people just fall in love with something like this.”
Shen Yun produces all original performances every year, with new dance arrangements, unique musical scores, and animated backdrops.
“I have never seen anything like it before, and I would like to see it again some day,” said Ms. Heidi Loiseau.
Reporting by Alec Wang and Ivan Pentchoukov
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has four touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit Shen Yun Performing Arts.
The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time. We have proudly covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.
