ORANGE PARK, Fla.—For Rebecca Day, a musician and writer, it was difficult to hold back tears as she watched Shen Yun Performing Arts at Thrasher-Horne Center on April 9. She thought the whole experience was incredible.
“It gives you renewed hope and it is so inspiring. It invigorates your spirit—it’s incredible. I’ve got so much respect for ancient Chinese culture. A big reason why I wanted to see [Shen Yun] was because I know how censored it is in China,” she said.
“As an artist, I can’t possibly imagine not having full access to the world’s history—let alone my own country’s complete history. This is, I think, the most important contemporary work in the performing arts today.”
For 5,000 years, China’s civilization flourished under the shared belief that the divine will bless those who uphold traditional moral values. Tragically, within just a few decades of the communist party’s violent takeover, these beliefs were erased and replaced with atheism.
What initially attracted Ms. Day to Shen Yun was the production’s focus on spirituality.
“In Shen Yun, the philosophy is so beautiful. Honestly, we go to live productions quite often—this is the most beautiful, inspirational, and moving [one] I’ve ever seen.”She agreed that getting back to our traditional values is incredibly important because “it’s not just wonderful for humanity in general, but it will help to bring a renewed spiritual state to people.”
“I think [Shen Yun’s] impact is unrivaled. It’s important that anyone should be able to see this. When they do see it, it’s impossible to not have a renewed sense of compassion for humanity and a renewed sense of not only bettering yourself but bettering the world around you,” she expressed.
“This is why Shen Yun is so important—it teaches what both restores humanity and moves it forward.”During Shen Yun’s modern-day story dance piece depicting the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution of Falun Gong practitioners—a peaceful group upholding the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance—Ms. Day said she tried very hard not to cry.
“We were discussing what is happening in China—the persecution—before the event started. But when you see it artistically play out before your eyes, it brings heightened awareness. The courage within these individuals is so inspiring and moving.”
Mr. Knight said he will be telling his friends that Shen Yun “is a once in a lifetime [experience.] It’s absolutely stunning and you will not regret going to see it.”
He would also like to thank the artists “for allowing us to be a small part of the audience and see such a wonderful production. It was absolutely incredible.”
