“I can really appreciate [it all] as a performing artist myself. It’s absolutely wonderful,” she said.
“I’ve never seen this type of dance before. It’s my very first and from what I understand these are the prime and the premium of Chinese performing artists in the entire world—the best of the best.”
Shari felt a connection with the dancers.
“It’s heavenly! … It’s so precise and eloquent and soft and they’re so light on their feet,” she said.
“Like you’re flying—like you’re floating like heavenly beings—like you’re … transformed into another realm or another planet,” she said.
“I would say that the beauty of the music and the dance and what it means to them on a spiritual level, and how much heart and passion they have for their people and their heritage,” she said.
Shen Yun Touches Hearts
Antonio Divine, a nurse who works in a Baptist hospital, was also captivated by the matinee’s performance, so much so that he said he would be returning.“The art, the performance, the stories are so compelling. And it brings so many things to my heart and my soul. I really enjoyed [it],” Antonio said.
“There was actually a point where I got so emotional that it brought tears to my eyes, especially when I saw what’s still happening in China, that they don’t allow people to speak out. So that part really touched my heart.”
Antonio was talking about the persecution of the ancient spiritual practice Falun Gong, which teaches truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance, and a series of health-promoting meditational exercises. The practice has been persecuted in China for over 20 years.
Inspired by the theme of compassion in the last dance he said, “If we all put our hearts and mind to bring peace to the world, we can do it.”
Antonio explained that he was a very spiritual person and that while watching Shen Yun he could see a light emanating from some of the performers.
“ I feel divinity is a power that we all have inside. We are blessed with that power and we can share it,” he said.
“I was looking at the show, especially at the end when the divine force arrives. I have a few challenges in my life, and I just felt that from now on, after seeing the show that my life is going to improve,” he said.
In fact, after watching Shen Yun, he said his body felt stronger.
“You know when we were coming to the show, I was complaining. I said, ‘Oh you know my back hurts, my back hurts.’ And I was sitting at the beginning [of the performance] and I was saying ‘oh my back hurts’.”
But after the performance, Antonio realized that his back pain had disappeared.
“I think, you know, it is for everyone, but some people choose to receive it and some people close themselves,” he said.
Antonio felt greater optimism after watching Shen Yun.
“I feel energized, I feel like I’m ready for 2022,” he said.
