Award-Winning Concierge Enriched by Chinese Culture
Apr 25, 2024
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Lori Lindstrom and Mick Cotter at Shen Yun Performing Arts at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on April 25, 2024. (Weiyong Zhu/The Epoch Times)
NEWARK, N.J.—Shen Yun Performing Arts performed at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on April 25 to an enthusiastic audience. Mick Cotter, a transportation director, and Lori Lindstrom, an award-winning concierge for an independent living community, thoroughly enjoyed the performance.
Ms. Lindstrom said she was amazed at the performers’ training and athleticism. “The physicality involved in it is incredible, very talented. I don’t know how they keep up with all their performances one after another,” she said.
Ms. Lindstrom enjoyed learning about ancient China through Shen Yun. Through classical Chinese dance and music, Shen Yun is sharing with the world the beauty of China’s authentic 5,000 years of history. Since its founding in 2006, the company has received worldwide accolades for its mission to revive traditional Chinese culture.
“It was interesting to get enriched with some of the Chinese culture. That was that was very nice,” Ms. Lindstrom said. The performance took the audience to modern times and the persecution of the Chinese Communist Party.
“I feel I’m getting an education on it,” Ms. Lindstrom said. “You know, I wasn’t very aware of certain things. And this opened my eyes to what’s happening in China, past and now, present.”
Many in the audience felt uplifted and hopeful, and Mr. Cotter agreed. He also enjoyed the live orchestra. “That’s great,” he said, and Ms. Lindstrom agreed. “The music’s incredible. Absolutely.”
Shen Yun Is Showing Culture of Ancient China
Paul Williams, vice president of an engineering firm, enjoyed Shen Yun and said, “It’s exciting dancing and very talented artists, and it gives you some of the Chinese culture and history.”
He especially enjoyed the artistry of the ‘Sleeves of Grace’ dance. “I love the long sleeves. They’re multi-colored.”
The spiritual message of Shen Yun made an impression on Mr. Williams. He said that humanity wants to be right with God, but everyone is “struggling with the consequences of sin, jealousy, greed, and all the moral troubles that are on this earth.”
“The entire mankind struggles with those things. All these different cultures express it in a different way,” he said.
He could see how Shen Yun’s mission is to revive 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, which has been nearly destroyed by the communist government. Mr. Williams agreed: “I see that’s what they’re trying to do, right? They’re trying to show China before the current communism.”
People are sometimes afraid to talk about the divine. Mr. Williams said: “Man needs a savior. He needs to be redeemed. ... Touch the fact that we all know there’s a God. We live in the spirit. We know there’s a God out there.”
‘They’re Just World-Class’
Martin Hollander, a technology manager, said: “It’s fantastic and I’m not a ballet person, but I was here last year and I’m here this year. They’re just world-class. Absolutely fantastic. You can’t describe how great they are!”
Martin Hollander attended Shen Yun Performing Arts performed at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on April 25, 2024. (Weiyong Zhu/The Epoch Times)
He loved the stories and the choreography, but especially the message that came from the stories. He said “that people should live in harmony. All this nonsense that’s going on now, it’s terrible.”
About the spiritual aspect of the performance, Mr. Hollander said: “I like it. It’s interesting. It’s different.” He said Shen Yun sends out positive feelings, “It’s great!”
With shows scheduled in over 200 cities and across five continents, the 2024 touring season is shaping up to be the artists’ busiest yet.
Reporting by Frank Liang, Weiyong Zhu, and Yvonne Marcotte.
