COSTA MESA, Calif.—“I loved the show. I thought it was marvelous,” said Stephanie Truit after watching the world renowned Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company’s performance at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, on March 16.

Shen Yun concluded its series of seven performances in Costa Mesa before an enthusiastic audience, and continues its tour to Thousand Oaks, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara respectively.

Ms. Truitt is a Hollywood freelance script reader. She analyzes scripts for writers for television series, movies, stage and musicals.

“It was very moving, especially the last piece,” she said.

“Because here is a benevolent person who cares about his people, and makes sure that they all find happiness and peace. And you can’t ask for more than that.”

Ms. Truitt was referring to the last dance piece entitled Buddha’s Compassion Shines Forth, that depicts people practicing Falun Dafa, meditative exercises. Falun Dafa is practiced around the world while a couple faces persecution for doing the same thing in China. When “disaster strikes, Lord Buddha appears,” explained the program.

She was inspired by Falun Dafa, a spiritual meditation discipline based on Truth, Compassion, and Tolerance. The persecution was instigated by the Chinese communist regime in 1999, and continues to this day.

Interested in learning about Falun Dafa, Ms. Truitt said she would go home and research it because she “needs to learn more about that”.

Independent and nonprofit, New York-based Shen Yun was established in 2006 by artists from around the world with the mission of reviving China’s divinely inspired traditional culture, which had nearly been completely destroyed by the current regime in China over the last several decades. For eight years, Shen Yun has quickly become an international sensation, with four companies simultaneously touring around the world.

The Shen Yun website describes what audiences experience, “A Shen Yun performance features the world’s foremost classically trained dancers, a unique orchestra blending East and West, and dazzling animated backdrops—together creating one spectacular performance.”

Ms. Truit was impressed by all aspects of the performance, “The dancing was beautiful. The costumes were stunning. It was so beautiful.”

The music enchanted Ms. Truitt, particularly the solo erhu played by Xiaochun Qi.

“I especially love the women that played the two-string instrument. That was some of the most beautiful music I’ve ever heard on two strings. That’s amazing. … And I really love the pianist too. She was very good,” she said.

The erhu is one of the most important Chinese instruments, and has a history of over 4,000 years. With only two strings, a skilled musician is able to express a variety of emotions through it.

The erhu soloist, Ms. Xiaochun Qi, won the Performer’s Award at the 14th “Spring of Shanghai” International Erhu Competition in 1991.

Ms. Truitt was also delighted by the stories told through the dance.

“I liked your story telling, the monkey and the toad was so cute. And the story where the girls are wearing the heals. And the one gets left behind at the end did she come she has to chase everybody. Lots of humor which is really marvelous.”

Shen Yun includes a variety of short pieces that transport audiences through China’s 5,000 years of civilization replete with “ancient myths, bygone heroes, or celestial paradises. Whether set in the past or in contemporary China, every dance embodies traditional Chinese values,” explains the website.

Having so much enjoyment from the performance, Ms. Truitt did not forget those who are less fortunate. She said, “I feel so sorry for the people in China. They don’t get to see this. That’s absurd. I’m so sorry because they’re really missing out. This is a beautiful show.”

In conclusion, Ms. Truitt eagerly said, “I hear, according to your emcees, Shen Yun will be back next year with another show. I want to come back. I hope to come back and see this again.”

Reporting by NTD Television and Thanh Le

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