WASHINGTON, D.C.—Lawyers have a tough job, often defined by one siding with one side and opposing the other. But when attorney Aejaz Dar went to see Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Kennedy Center Opera House, he experienced being connected to a greater whole.
“It’s a very moving performance and I think it’s also thought provoking as well, I'd encourage everyone to see it,” said Mr. Dar.
New York-based Shen Yun seeks to revive the sense of divine inspiration through classical Chinese dance and music, after systematic political campaigns like the Cultural Revolution almost destroyed the traditional culture in China.
From the beginning of the performance to the end, the divine’s hand in human affairs is acknowledged. Each of the evening’s individual songs or dances highlights some cherished value of traditional Chinese culture—compassion, loyalty, kindness or bravery—often by telling a story, sometimes through the singing of award-winning vocalists.
“It’s very moving, and I think no matter who you are, we are all connected by certain ideas or concepts, so I think the way the Chinese interpretation of spirituality has been presented is accessible to anyone, regardless of what your background is. We’re all connected in some fundamental way,” said Mr. Dar.
The performance was also understandable and enjoyable to his young daughter, who happily added “I think it’s very nice!”
The Chinese people traditionally believed that Chinese culture was divinely bestowed—a gift from the gods. Spirituality permeated all aspects of Chinese culture since ancient times. Like the artists of China’s history, Shen Yun’s performers venerate the divine with their art, according to the Shen Yun website.
For Mr. Dar, the colorful dances of Shen Yun, which depict scenes from a harvest in the countryside to the “Legend of the Creator,” connected spirituality with human nature.
“I think what I’ve taken away most from the performance is how in tune the traditional is with its surroundings or with nature.”
Reporting by Jenny Jing and Valentin Schmid
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.
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.
