Although Ethridge’s tenure has been long, it hasn’t been as long as traditional China’s lineage, which reaches back 5,000 years into history. His career does give him, however, a good vantage point from which to observe the way New York-based Shen Yun revives ancient Chinese culture in their performance and the effect their efforts are having on the world.
“Ah, it was a beautiful experience,” Ethridge said. “[Shen Yun] talked about the culture, the traditions in China. It was beautiful. And it talked about the thousands of years of dance.” Ethridge attended Shen Yun on Feb. 15, 2020, with his wife.
Ethridge said the performance was very touching for him. “Oh! it was—it was very nice. ... I think it showed how people reacted and how they use dance and their cultures, how that, how it changed over the years, and how they tried to express how they were feeling, or what they were going through.”
Ethridge took all this in and compared it to his own life experience having grown up in the United States.
“Well, I think it tells me that there are parts of the world that have had thousands of years of history. And the United States is this very young country that really hasn’t gone through what many countries have gone through. And what I’ve gone through, the people in the United States have gone through, does not compare to other parts of the world, especially China.”
Ethridge concluded that the China Shen Yun portrays is immensely profound, adding that the cultural value of such a show is important and needs to be seen by future generations.
“I think the cultural value was based on faith. And the very last act, I think was very good, to say, ‘We want to take all this culture and all this history and show how it affects us today and how this generation needs to be educated.’”
The final piece of Shen Yun’s 2020 performance is titled “Renewal of Heaven and Earth” and portrays an ancient Chinese legend about the Creator returning to earth and rewarding those who have chosen good over evil.
“Well, I think what that told is not just from a historical point of view, but that this generation should look at that and have faith for the future. Even though people have gone through a lot, that they need to take that culture and that faith and apply [it] today, to what they’re doing in 2020, in China and the rest of the world.”
Ethridge added that he can imagine that many around the world, China-watchers and Chinese people themselves, are probably hoping that things will change for the better in China as Shen Yun and others expose the truth about what’s happening there and offer traditional wisdom and peaceful means as a suggestion for how to deal with it.
Lastly, Ethridge gave a big kudos to Shen Yun’s artists for carrying on such ancient and noble traditions and for having the courage to keep going despite enormous pressure.
“From generation to generation to generation, that they’re talking about hundreds of generations here, to try to continue, to carry on the hope, I think is very courageous,” he said. “I think to do this is very courageous. Considering what could happen if somebody tried to do this in China, or parts of the world, not just China. I’m sure that there are parts of the world where this group takes a big risk, putting on a show like this.”
