MEMPHIS, Tenn.—Robert and Donna Lovato had a wonderful time watching Shen Yun on Feb. 10 at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts.
“[The entire performance] was wonderful, spectacular, actually. And very engaging.” Mr. Lovato said.
“The dancing was just absolutely amazing. The timing was impeccable. Every move was just perfect. I was so impressed by not only the strength of the dancers but the grace. It was quite an experience. All I know is, I feel full of love and kindness from experiencing this.” Mrs. Lovato added.
Knowing that Shen Yun is reviving a culture that is being destroyed in China, Mr. Lovato, who is a senior design engineer of security systems, said, “It was very inspirational. The cool thing is that they’re preserving the traditions of China in the midst of the persecutions. ... I can see that there’s a good moral story going on here.”
Mrs. Lovato said, “It really did open up the beauty of the tradition to me, which I had never seen before.”
Since its founding in 2006, Shen Yun Performing Arts cannot perform in China because of its commitment to raising awareness about ongoing persecution of Falun Gong in China.
Mr. and Mrs. Lovato were both moved by the dance drama that depicts the persecution. “I think they did it in a very kind manner. Obviously, not just blasting the negativity, but they showed the positivity in the midst of a negativity. The persecution breaks my heart. But that message needs to be spoken because that was a truth.” Mr. Lovato said, “We need to rise above the negativity or the downside of humanity...This was purity. This was a beautiful heart.”
Mrs. Lovato said that the show was “emotionally moving and it takes a lot of courage to speak [the truth].”
Seated in the center of the front row with the orchestra pit right in front, Mr. Lovato also enjoyed watching the Shen Yun musicians. He said, “The orchestra was amazing. I was watching the orchestra part of the time. ... I love the instruments and what talent! Great talent!” Mr. Lovato continued to say that all the Shen Yun artists “are gifted individuals, very gifted! You can tell that they’re very disciplined to their trade. You can see principle and discipline.”
