PITTSBURGH—Shen Yun Performing Arts took to the stage at the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts on Thursday, Feb. 16, leaving the audience full of kind words for the New York-based classical Chinese dance and music company.
Shen Yun tours around the world with one mission: to revive 5,000 years of divinely inspired Chinese culture, according to its website. “Unfortunately, over the past 60 years, this cultural treasure has been persecuted and co-opted by the Chinese Communist Party,” it adds. “It is outside of China that Shen Yun’s artistic creators have the ability to freely express themselves and their ancient culture. Their courage to speak up is an integral part of Shen Yun’s spirit.”
“Even though the language, and the barriers, is so different, the theme for humanity is always the same,” said Jim Tocco, who owns his own business. “It’s very interesting to see, the music, its just a wonderful story.”
Mr. Tocco saw the theme of good and evil standing out in the performance. “Plus, in the current times, how in China perhaps this couldn’t be done and shown because of the persecution,” he added.
Several of the dances in Shen Yun portray groups persecuted in modern-day China, such as Falun Gong, a meditation practice based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance, according to Shen Yun’s website. “It has helped over a hundred million Chinese people understand and return to the essence of traditional Chinese culture—Confucian, Buddhist, and Taoist schools of thought,” adds the site. Yet, since 1999, the communist regime has attempted to eradicate the group. “Their spirit of compassion and tolerance manifest the very essence of China’s 5,000-year-old divine culture,” states the website.
That is why, despite presenting traditional Chinese culture at more than 100 cities around the world, including venues such as Lincoln Center in New York City, the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., and Palais des Congres de Paris in Paris, Shen Yun cannot travel to China.
