BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—Business owner Andi Rich had wanted to see Shen Yun Performing Arts for at least 10 years, but never had. But on the last day of February this year, he finally brought his family to the BJCC Concert Hall for the matinee.
“I’ve never been to a show like this,” Mr. Rich said.
He witnessed dozens of dancers, a live orchestra, and a digital backdrop that carried him into mythical Chinese landscapes, palaces of the past, and even to heavenly kingdoms.
“I see it on Facebook every year. And I’m like, ‘Oh, I wish I could go, I wish I could go. So this year, I brought my little girl, and we’re having a great time.”
Mr. Rich loved everything about the performance but singled out the smooth dancing, which his 6-year-old daughter, who takes dance, especially enjoyed.
“She loves the dancing. Yes, yes, she loves it.”
Grace Bradley, Mr. Rich’s partner, agreed. She lived in China for two years and felt the performance went a lot deeper in sharing “what went on in the past” and “what’s going on now.”
It was the dance story about current-day China that stood out to Mr. Rich. It depicted the ongoing communist persecution endured by people of faith.
Since 1999, the Chinese Communist Party has engaged in a brutal campaign to exterminate practitioners of Falun Gong, a spiritual path embracing traditional Chinese beliefs and values.
He actually experienced the music physically. “Sometimes it feels a little overwhelming in my chest. … Almost like it makes a little tear come out of my eye. Yeah, so … I love it.”
Shen Yun orchestra is unique. Within its live symphonic orchestra are traditional Chinese instruments that give the whole a lush sound of East and West.
“I just love the music. I’m here for the music. … I don’t know what it is about the music, but it’s very soothing inside my head.”
Sanday Knight, who owns a paint company, attended with her daughter, Destiny Williams, a social media contractor. The pair had a very emotional reaction to Shen Yun.
Ms. Knight had seen an online preview, but seeing it live, she was “just totally blown away in person, just couldn’t believe how amazing they all were, what effort they had to have put into being able to do all that, and the story is just amazing behind it.”
The story Ms. Knight referred to is Shen Yun’s mission to restore the beauty of a culture pre-dating authoritarianism.
“I'll get emotional, but I’m just so happy and thrilled to see what their performance [is like] and what all they’re able to tell through their story and dance and music,” she said.
“Shen Yun” translates roughly as “divine beings dancing,” suggesting that at the heart of the company’s mission is the wish to restore not only the history and artistry of ancient China but also its values and beliefs.
“I loved it. I think that it’s very important to connect with yourself and a higher power, and it’s beautiful.”
She was very touched. “I don’t know how to explain it. I was just enjoying it the whole time, jaw on the floor a couple of times. A little, little tear almost came out. … It was just, it was beautiful. That’s really all I keep saying, it was beautiful.”
There’s nothing really like it, she thought, “It’s just really touching.”
Ms. Knight actually shed tears during the performance.
“Several times I had to watch with tears. I mean, I felt so sad for them and then I could feel happy knowing … . Let’s see. I don’t know how to describe it. ... I’m just happy that they’re able to depict the story and do it so well to where people can understand it and … appreciate all ... that they had to go through and hopefully will again one day.”
“Their acting skills are incredible,” Ms. Knight said. “It’s amazing the story that they’re able to tell through the music and dance, and … it’s just amazing. Everyone out there should see it, study it, know what’s behind it because it’s really important.”
“I just feel like everybody should be represented that way, because they’re amazing people and they deserve so much better.”
She added a few words for the company’s founder and artistic director.
