ESCONDIDO, Calif.—Shen Yun Performing Arts delighted audiences in its extended run at the California Center for the Arts from March 13 through 19.
The talent and artistry of Shen Yun’s musicians and performers amazed many.
“It was a sight to behold and all senses were engaged,” said Danielle LeBlanc, a council member at the city of San Marcos.
“They’re so talented. They really have to work hard to get to that level of performance. They’re very good at what they do,” realtor Ronald Rickwald said.
San Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson said, “I’ve never seen anything like this, it was so special and incredible. Beautiful dancers, but dancing like I’ve never seen before. So it was quite amazing and uplifting, and I don’t know how anybody could spend this time here and not feel super excited to tell their friends about it.”
“It’s just a masterpiece,“ Poway City Councilmember Jenny Maeda said. ”They’re great at storytelling, and I really enjoyed how they combined the technological digital stuff with the ancient arts and music and dance.”
Dawn Dekle, a law school dean, said, “In the West, you have a lot of [dissonance] in the arts, but here, you have a lot of harmony. To see all that is really beautiful. Very, very well done.”
Jessica Gorman, a company manager, particularly enjoyed the traditional dances performed by both the male and female dancers.
A Deeper Message
Shen Yun’s mission is to revive China’s 5,000 years of traditional culture before communism. Many in the audience were surprised of China’s spiritual message that emanates from the stories and legends presented in the performance.I guess we were going home with something. It’s spiritual. It’s not just a show. It’s got something that we can take it and put it in our lives. So it was very touching,” said Maiti Nelson, a minister.
Deanna Smith, chair of the Escondido Chamber of Commerce, said that the experience was “powerful, enlightening, and just divine.”
Russ Maiolino, CRNA anesthesiologist, says it is invigorating for people to see and learn outside of China.
Edifying Performance
Steff Saavedra, a client relations manager at a tribal energy developer, said Shen Yun reaffirmed her belief that all people should be able to have the freedom to express and teach others about their history.“This artistic expression helps us come back full circle to the human part of our ancient history,” she said.
Shen Yun has an educational value for young people interested in the performing arts. Dance school principal Ann Mendoza Hendrix brought her students to a performance.
“I wanted them to see how professional dance can be done. Since they do dance and acrobatics, I wanted them to see how it is possible for people to dance amazingly and what it is to be a professional and to be in a production,” she said. She wanted her students “to learn by watching [how to] do something together.”
Anthony Segoria’s Chinese colleagues, who work with him at a telecommunications company, recommended Shen Yun.
“I’m going to tell them that it was a very, very good show,” he said. “Very, very talented people on the stage. Very, very talented, great acting.”
Scott Stokes, owner of a software company, brought his children to teach them about the dangers of communism.
“Not only do I love how beautiful the performance is, but I really want my kids to learn about the dangers of communism from people that have escaped communism.”
“Everybody should come see it, said Jason Bercovitch, district director for Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.). “First of all, it’s a great combination of dance, of art, of culture, and of music, but at the same time, you can really learn something.”
There are still opportunities to see Shen Yun throughout California. You can see Shen Yun in Northridge, San Diego, Costa Mesa, Riverside, and San Luis Obispo in April, and in Hollywood in May.
