LOS ANGELES—Much of what Gregory Morgan, CEO of Embrace Growth, does is to connect people with both themselves and others.
“I travel the world and teach relationships,” the television host and public speaker summarized.
In seeing Shen Yun Performing Arts, he felt connected to the traditions and philosophies of 5,000 years—ones that have endured to this day.
“I’m loving it. It’s very beautiful. I’m very touched inside, by the beauty and the grace of the performance,” said Mr. Morgan, who saw the performance with his wife at the Microsoft Theater on April 24.
New York-based Shen Yun has the mission of sharing the authentic traditional Chinese culture with the world, which was nearly lost under communist China in recent decades, and Mr. Morgan was an appreciative recipient of this message delivered through music and dance.
“I was touched, that you would bring this message here. And I think a lot of people in the Western world need to know this, need to see this, this part of the Chinese culture,” Mr. Morgan said.
For thousands of years, Chinese civilization was centered on the idea of harmony between heaven, earth, and humankind. This is seen to play out in many stories and legends told through dance, and the lyrics of the original Chinese compositions delivered by bel canto vocalists.
It was moving to see that even though communism has tried to stamp this culture out, “people stay true to that” tradition, he said.
Having danced, practiced martial arts, and played music, Mr. Morgan felt delighted by the many art forms that combine in a Shen Yun performance, though the styles were completely new to him. Classical Chinese dance has a history of thousands of years, as do many of the Chinese instruments blended into the orchestra.
But in the philosophies, Mr. Morgan found familiarity. For instance, the Taoist idea of yin and yang, of masculinity and femininity, is something Mr. Morgan studies and uses in his workshops. He saw this duality of energy play out in the dance, “so I have a deep appreciation for it,” he said.
These are ideas he has studied for most of his life, “so each time I’m exposed to this culture I get a deeper understanding, not only of the culture, somehow of myself in it as well.”
He felt connected to himself through Shen Yun, and to the artists as well.
“We’re kind of [sitting] up front, so I’m able to really ... feel the performance as well as just see it. I can feel connected to the performance,” he said.
Reporting by NTD Television and Catherine Yang
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.
