Psychologist Howard Berlin was glad to see people come together to experience a sense of community. “People now are feeling depressed because they feel more isolated and alone,” he said. “And when you come to something like this, you see people coming together and the beauty of community.”
New York-based Shen Yun is a global classical Chinese dance and music phenomenon that has been sharing a message of hope with the world on its global tour since 2006. It performs in over 150 cities each year with a brand-new program. Bringing to life traditional Chinese culture with colorful costumes, original music performed by a live orchestra, and breathtaking dance numbers, audience members often remark how Shen Yun is a one-of-a-kind experience.
Berlin himself got a boost from seeing the show. “I feel lighter, mentally. I just feel lifted, like I’m seeing something beautiful and bigger than me and bigger than everything going on in the world,” he said.
“The basic takeaway is the beauty of the storytelling and of the power of individuals,” Berlin said. “A lot of times, they’re dancing and it’s individuals coming together against something that’s bigger than them. And it’s just the beauty and the power of individual expression.”
Immerse Yourself in Love and Compassion
Taiya Himebauch, a color and sound therapist, remarked on the effect Shen Yun’s music had on her body and mood.
“I can feel the physical changes of music in your heart,” she explained. “So during the soprano’s piece, I closed my eyes so I wasn’t feeling the color, and I just felt her music. And I felt muscles loosen in my chest and throat that have needed to loosen for a while, and I felt openness. I felt breathing [was] easier and I just felt beautiful ... I felt the beauty of her voice.”
Himebauch said the performance made her feel beautiful again.
“I feel elevated, I feel like I’m in a better mood ... The music made me feel beautiful again on a soul level,” she said.
“If there’s something I would say to other people who are considering coming, I would say: If there’s something in you or you are having a hard time feeling compassion for others right now, that love for someone who you disagree with, or a situation you don’t understand, you can be immersed in love and compassion here, so come see it.”
“I’m a chemist, and if you listen to hate and distrust and you’re angry, the water in your body also changes, and you don’t want that. You want to be bright, you want to be light. So whatever it takes to bring that light in, do it. And this is an easy way: the price of a ticket.”
Reporting by Teng Dongyu and Nancy Ma.The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.
