SALT LAKE CITY—Richard Paul Evans, the proud author of 45 national bestsellers and movies, attended
Shen Yun’s evening performance at the George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Theater.
Exiting the venue on Feb. 21, Mr. Evans thought the performance was “very beautiful and fun to watch.” He was happy to have shared this experience with McKenna, his adopted daughter from China.
“It’s really interesting,” he exclaimed. “I didn’t know it had a spiritual bent to it. I liked that a lot!”
Shen Yun Performing Arts was founded in New York in 2006 by leading Chinese artists seeking
to revive China’s 5,000 years of traditional culture. Up until the 1949 communist takeover, its people were very spiritual and had a deep respect for the divine.
These artists are dedicated to presenting a brand-new set of
programs every year to share with its audience the beauty of China before communism.
For the 2023 touring season, the company is slated to perform in more than
180 cities around the world.
Mr. Evans had lived in Taiwan over 40 years ago and has a soft spot in his heart for Chinese culture. He loved every aspect of Shen Yun’s performance.
“The
ancient culture was really beautiful. I was surprised that the dances were so diverse. After 5,000 years—they just got everything,” he said.
“I loved watching the dances—I liked the ones with messages and also the ones that were just dancing. I thought some of the classical legends were really beautiful.”
In addition to classical Chinese dance and ethnic and
folk dances, Shen Yun includes solo musical performances as well as
story-based dances that tell tales ranging from ancient times to the modern day.
As a Christian, Mr. Evans was also fascinated by how closely traditional Chinese beliefs connected with his own.
“I really liked the idea that good will reign. I think it’s beautiful and hopeful,” Mr. Evans said. “It likens the Christians’ belief in the Second Coming—a time when evil is done away with and the good will triumph.”
“[Shen Yun] is a hopeful show about the return of God and compassion,” he said.
Reporting by Yue Yi and Jennifer Tseng.
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