Senior Directors of CEO Space Mid Atlantic Drop Everything to See Shen Yun

“I love the grace, the beauty, the inspiration, and the truth that was brought to us. It was very special. It was a breath of fresh air.”
Senior Directors of CEO Space Mid Atlantic Drop Everything to See Shen Yun
3/21/2012
Updated:
8/14/2015

WASHINGTON—Senior directors of CEO Space Mid Atlantic, Rob and Cheryl Adams, were very busy on March 21 working on a project when they got a call from a CEO Space member who said to them “drop everything and come” to opening night of Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Kennedy Center Opera House.

Even though that meant taking a two-hour drive, that is what they did and they loved what they saw.

New York-based Shen Yun, established in 2006, is the world’s leading classical Chinese dance company and has as its mission the revival of China’s authentic, divinely inspired culture “which the Chinese Communist Party has for decades tried to destroy: a tradition of spiritual self-discipline and veneration for the divine,” says the company website.

“It was awesome, fabulous, beautiful, inspiring, motivating … I am so blessed,” said Mrs. Adams. “The music, the orchestra, the dance, the movement—just watching, you didn’t have to hear the words of the story, you watched it unfold, and it was so beautiful. I just loved it!

“It is so inspiring. They are sharing their passion, and they are sharing their truth. And it all comes across—it goes into the heart of the people that are watching. I love the grace, the beauty, the inspiration, and the truth that was brought to us. It was very special. It was a breath of fresh air.”

Mr. Adams was almost lost for words in describing his experience of the show. He said: “It is fabulous. There are no words. It is more of an emotion to me. ... The theme and what [Shen Yun] are doing to bring the culture of China to the world—it is beautiful.”

“To see them conveying the culture of 5,000 years ... and the heart those people have to keep that culture, and to share it with the world, that to me, is so meaningful,” he added.

Mrs. Adams, a former educator, said she had learned a lot. “It was sharing about the truth of another culture that I was not aware of. And so, I was learning. And as an educator, I am always learning. I am always taking things in. And I think the truth was the inspiration from the [traditional Chinese] culture, and from the history.”

In addition, Mrs. Adams has a background in theater arts and has been involved in that capacity in her church for 15 years. “I felt very honored because I know how hard, how much work, [has gone into this show]. I have created costumes, and I have created choreography and I have practiced to do choreography, but not to this extent, and so I am really honored [to witness] all the hard work. I even understand that the costumes were all hand-made!

Reporting by NTD Television and Sophia Bronwen.

Shen Yun Performing Arts, based in New York, tours the world on a mission to revive traditional Chinese culture. Shen Yun Performing Arts Touring Company will perform at The Kennedy Center Opera House, Washington, D.C., through April 1.

For more information visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org