Singer Anjali Hansa enjoyed Shen Yun at Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, on Jan. 4, 2023. (Teng Dongyu/ The Epoch Times)
GAINESVILLE, Fla.—For singer Anjali Hansa, Shen Yun Performing Arts was not only a feast for the eyes but a spiritual experience as well. “It’s so healing to see such grace and elegance—amazingly divine,” she said. “[The divine] is so ineffable and hard to touch, it feels like the dancing was as close as you can get to that.”
As Ms. Hansa followed the movements of the dancers on stage at the Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts on Jan. 4, she felt that Shen Yun artists were living their fullest. “They’re loving every single moment of it. It’s such an offering from the core of their being,” she said. “I’m so grateful to have come.”
“It felt as if it was all divinely arranged for me to be here tonight. All the adventures of my life have led me to this moment of getting to witness this amazing production,” she expressed.
Prior to the communist takeover and its spread of atheism in 1949, spirituality and the belief in the divine played an important role in traditional Chinese culture. Since Shen Yun’s founding in 2006, the New York-based company has made it its mission to bring back China’s 5,000 years of divinely inspired history and share with the world beauty before communism.
“I feel like every single one of those dancers is so evolved in their journey towards the divine. It’s amazing and incredible to witness that. [It left] an eternal impression on my heart and soul,” Ms. Hansa said.
Laura and Richard Whitt attended Shen Yun’s evening performance in Gainesville, Fla., on Jan. 4, 2023. (Teng Dongyu/ The Epoch Times)
Richard Whitt, the owner of a land surveying company, and his wife Laura Whitt were also in the audience.
Seeing Shen Yun for the first time, the couple was impressed by the amount of culture the performing arts company presented. “I couldn’t ask for a better evening. It’s just a spectacular show,” Mr. Whitt said. “It really got to the heart.”
“I learned a lot tonight. Not only did I enjoy myself, but I learned a lot about the culture and the past. That’s an important part I’m taking away from tonight,” he added.
Referring to the performers’ commitment to their art, Mr. Whitt said: “You can be as trained as you want, but if you don’t love what you’re doing it won’t come across the way it did tonight. You can tell they love and believe in everything they’re doing.”
Ms. Whitt, on the other hand, was touched by the message that Shen Yun presented: “[It’s a show about] good versus evil, hope, and remembering our past and keeping traditions alive. The dynasties come and go, but good is going to prevail in the end.”
