SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico—On the evening of Feb. 26, Gregory Guijarro attended the premiere of Shen Yun at the Centro de Bellas Artes Luis A. Ferré. The performance, he said, offered him a profound sense of the connection between humanity, nature, and the divine.
“Today, we live in a society abundant in material wealth and resources,” he said. “Some have tried to distance us from faith in the divine, moving us away from that ancient era of belief. Yet performances like this provide a spiritual experience that brings us closer to the divine.”
Endowed with 5,000 years of civilization, China was once known as the “Land of the Divine.” For millennia, its people believed that by keeping their hearts pure and upholding high moral standards, they would receive blessings from the heavens.
Mr. Guijarro believes that Shen Yun carries an important message for modern audiences. “Shen Yun conveys that we must dedicate time to paying attention to the divinity within human beings and to the divine in which we believe,” he said.
Among the many scenes, one in particular left a deep impression on him. “For me, the most striking scene was the one inside the prison. I did not expect such a portrayal, but I understand that this is reality. Presenting it to the world is both good and necessary,” he said.
Mr. Guijarro further stressed the enduring power of artistic expression. “Art must not die out in the face of a totalitarian regime. Art must triumph over all obstacles. Whether it is a regime that suppresses art or any system that restricts the free expression of artists through music, dance, and song, nothing should hinder the advancement of art,” he stated.
In closing, he warmly encouraged others to attend. “I will tell my friends not to miss this opportunity to experience such a spectacular performance—one that features soothing vocal music with profound meaning, brilliant colors, graceful dances, and beautiful messages rich with deep inner significance,” he said.
