On the evening of March 17, Mr. Caracciolo attended Shen Yun Performing Arts’ sixth performance in Rome at the Auditorium della Conciliazione, together with Ms. Carlotta Tirola. The theater was filled to capacity. Mr. Caracciolo is a computer engineer in the avionics sector, while Ms. Tirola works for a well-known Italian cosmetics company. She was so moved by the performance that she was brought to tears.
Speaking about his impressions, Mr. Caracciolo said he experienced “very strong emotions,” brought about by “the music, the colors, and the extraordinary dance,” emphasizing that what he saw was “not gymnastics, but ancient dance.”
Reflecting on this very special evening, Mr. Caracciolo said, “These are not things you learn from books—you have to experience them.”
Through classical Chinese, folk, and story-based dances, Shen Yun brings to life traditional values such as filial piety, kindness, truthfulness, and loyalty.
For Ms. Tirola, the performance conveyed an important message about reconnecting with oneself and others. “It is important to regain contact with oneself, with one’s spirituality, with the world, and with those around us,” she said.
“In today’s society, we are all disconnected from ourselves,” she said. “We focus only on the frenzy of modern life and on frivolous interests. There is no longer attention to others or to the community, no courtesy. People no longer understand the boundaries of their own space, and we end up trampling on each other, no longer paying attention to the soul. It is truly terrifying.”
She also felt that Shen Yun highlighted the goodness in human nature, even in the face of hardship. Referring to a dance story depicting the Chinese communist regime’s ongoing persecution of Falun Gong, she said, “It shows severe persecution, but they continue to uphold kindness. Even when someone betrayed them and tried to have them persecuted, after suffering, they still helped him. That is a powerful message—you may act like a beast, but I will not treat you the same way, because I have more heart, more conscience.”
Mr. Caracciolo humbly noted that the performance broadened his understanding. “We didn’t know many things. It was very interesting to discover Falun Dafa—I knew nothing about it. I’ve always been attracted to Chinese tradition, but you see how much one can learn,” he said.
