PORTLAND, Ore.—Since ancient times, China has been known as the “Celestial Empire” and the “Divine Land.” Such titles contain profound meanings, describing a land where mortals and the divine coexist. Shen Yun Performing Arts, the world’s premiere dance company, seeks to revive this glorious culture.
Since 2006, the company has traveled the globe, helping the world rediscover ancient Chinese culture. On Jan. 18, Shen Yun graced the stage of Portland’s Keller Auditorium.
Brad and Debra Fresch were in attendance and found the production beyond their expectations.
“Excellent, excellent!” said Mrs. Fresch, a nurse. She was touched by Shen Yun’s range of attire.
“I think the costumes are just brilliant,” she said. “And the dance and the story, and just the appreciation of them trying to really recapture and share their culture that’s been suppressed and lost is just really wonderful.”
“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,” reads Shen Yun’s website.
However, the New York-based Shen Yun cannot be seen in China today, where traditional values have been nearly destroyed by the current regime.
The couple was especially struck by the disconnect between what Shen Yun promotes and the actual state of China today.
“Definitely a loss of traditional values,” said Mr. Fresch, an engineering consultant at Daimler Trucks North America.
“Opposition to certain cultures and values,” Mrs. Fresch suggested, is something she hopes Shen Yun can keep transcending.
Reporting by Lauren Morency DePhillips and Michael Fitzgerald.
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.
