SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun ‘Gives You Freedom’ Says Associate Dean of Student Affairs

Feb 02, 2014
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Shen Yun ‘Gives You Freedom’ Says Associate Dean of Student Affairs
Robert L. Haynie, M.D. and his wife, Edweana Robinson, enjoy Shen Yun Performing Arts on the evening of Feb. 1, at the State Theater. (Catherine Wen/Epoch Times)

CLEVELAND—Shen Yun delivered a bit of warmth to a cold part of the nation on the evening of Feb. 1, at the State Theater.

Robert L. Haynie, M.D. Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and his wife, Edweana Robinson, who is also a professor, celebrated their 31st anniversary by coming out to see Shen Yun.

“In the newspaper—I heard about it and everybody said it’s a fantastic show,” Dr. Haynie explained. “So this is our anniversary and so this is part of our anniversary I said let’s go down and see the show.”

Classical Chinese dancers, award-winning singers, and a full orchestra comprised of both Eastern and Western instruments allow New York-based Shen Yun to bring 5,000 years of Chinese civilization to the world.

That rich civilization was nearly lost after 60 years of deliberate dismantling by the Communist regime, according to the company’s website. Part of that rich nearly lost tradition is the culture’s ties to spiritual beliefs and time-honored virtues.

Dr. Haynie said, “I think it brings all of us together, since spirituality brings you together. This is in any language and I don’t care what it is.”

“Its interesting about it how communism tends to do away with religion and the whole scene of supreme beings has to be overcome in order to control people psychologically. And what this is, is freedom,” he said.

“The show gives you freedom and that is why I really liked it. You know, all the [dancers] jumping, it’s as you move closer to the supreme being. So we really liked that,” affirmed Dr. Haynie.

“I liked the pageantry,” Ms. Robinson stated. “I loved the colors, I loved the dance, I loved the precision, and I’m learning a lot of history and things I have no idea of, the cultures, and for me it’s an excellent way to see that.”

It seems they can take something back with them after seeing Shen Yun. “We both are teachers and one thing I’m going to take back is what Confucius says is to think and not study is dangerous and to study and not think is foolish. We enjoyed it very much,” Dr. Haynie said.

Ms. Robinson connected with some of the profound virtues expressed in Shen Yun’s performance. She said, “The message of hope and you know I liked the three things, the three words the little girl had on her banner which were: Truth, Compassion, and Tolerance–we all need those.”

Reporting by Catherine Wen and Andrew Darin

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.