MOBILE, Ala.—Sandy Stimpson, mayor of the city of Mobile, and his wife Jean Stimpson were delighted by
Shen Yun at Mobile Civic Center Theater in Alabama on April 30.
“It’s wonderful. It’s very inspiring. The costumes are beautiful. The dancing is splendid. It’s just a wonderful experience!” said Mayor Stimpson.
In “one word,” he said, Shen Yun is “Spectacular!”
Based in New York,
Shen Yun Performing Arts is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance company. Along with Chinese folk and ethnic dance, the production presents story-based dances that depict the history and traditional culture of China from ancient times to today. Shen Yun also features a live orchestra with solo vocal and instrumental music performances.
From the moment the curtain rose in the first scene, Mayor Stimpson said it was ‘breathtaking!’
“I was like, ‘Wow, this is amazing!’ I mean, it was breathtaking,” he said.
Mrs. Stimpson also said she thoroughly enjoyed the
performance and appreciated the calm energy from Shen Yun.
“I loved the peace and the harmony that it is all throughout,” she said.
Shen Yun Performing Arts aims to revive China’s 5,000-year-old traditional culture. The company’s website says its performance this year demonstrates “China before communism.”
Mayor Stimpson said that he enjoyed
Shen Yun’s artistic presentation of the stories of ancient Chinese culture.
“In our culture, there’s so much we certainly don’t understand about the Chinese culture … so it’s just been very, very enjoyable.”
This was the first time they had attended a Shen Yun
performance.Mayor Stimpson said he was inspired to see the performance after reading a newspaper article about Shen Yun presenting story-based dances depicting the persecution of
Falun Dafa (also called Falun Gong), a meditation and spiritual practice based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) launched a persecution against the practice in 1999, and adherents have since been subjected to unprecedented imprisonment, torture, and abuse.
“I’ve just seen the brochure, and read a little bit about it and I thought this would be something I think I would enjoy,” Mayor Stimpson said.
“And then I saw a newspaper article about it … about some of the persecution … and that inspired me also to want to come,” he said.
“I think there’s political conflict all around the world and so I just like to see people that are not oppressed to be able to have their freedom … that’s what I would be in support of.”
As mayor of the city of Mobile, he wanted to express his gratitude and delight to
Shen Yun for performing in the port city.
“Congratulations on the splendid performance. And we’re delighted that you’re in Mobile. And thank you for what you’re doing. And God bless.”
He said the city of Mobile welcomes the company “with open arms.”
Reporting by Frank Xie and Jennifer Schneider.
