WASHINGTON—Just as in a number of prior years, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts hosted the Shen Yun Performing Arts show on April 19, 2015, in Washington, D.C.
Yearning for Freedom
Among those in attendance was Mark Morozowich, an interim provost, which is a senior academic administrator, at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
He spoke of his background, which in his opinion gives him good insight into what is happening in China and how it relates to the Shen Yun show.
Mr. Morozowich is a Ukrainian catholic priest. He said, “my cousins were persecuted, and my uncles were in Siberia because of their belief. Especially because of that, the yearning of human spirit for freedom, just speaks very clearly to me.”
Today’s China, after decades of atheistic communist rule, has lost touch with its ancient past and Shen Yun seeks to repair the cultural damage. In fact, Shen Yun makes it clear to the audience that the company is not allowed to perform in China today.
In Mr. Morozowich’s opinion, one rarely experiences that a show “includes ... religious and human rights issues in art and [dance] and at the same time brings forth the best of the human spirit.”
Shen Yun is “truly a great testament to what humanity can achieve,” said Mr. Morozowich.
He continued, but not just that, “it also is a wonderful vision into the rich culture and artistic traditions of the Chinese people … This show was dramatic and yet wonderful to watch.”
“Through the universal language of music and dance, Shen Yun weaves a wondrous tapestry of heavenly realms, ancient legends, and modern heroic tales, taking you on a journey through 5,000 years of Chinese culture,” said the Shen Yun website.
Poetry
Ms. Dona Barnes, a Librarian, and Corinne, a first grader in the Davidsonville Elementary school, were in the audience for the Sunday matinée.
Ms. Barnes was deeply touched and had tears in her eyes from beginning to end of the Shen Yun show, because what she saw was “beauty, grace and strength … It was poetry to watch. The feeling was uplifting and yet sad – just beautiful,” she said.
The Shen Yun show’s “stunning beauty and tremendous energy leave audiences uplifted and inspired,” said the Shen Yun website.
The scene that showed “compassion really moved me. It was and is a very dramatic story … it’s very touching and very compelling,” said Ms. Barnes.
“Whether set in the past or in contemporary China, every dance [by the Shen Yun dancers] embodies traditional Chinese values,” according to the Shen Yun website.
“Ideals of loyalty, filial piety, and veneration for the divine are cherished and celebrated. Heroes are extolled for their compassion and tolerance as much as their courage or determination when facing adversity,” said the website.
Reporting by Lisa Fan, Heide B. Malhotra, and NTD Television Station’s Sherry Chang
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has four touring companies that perform around the world. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time. We have proudly covered audience reaction since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006
