DETROIT—There are moments in our lives when we wish could start over, start afresh. Sometimes these moments stem from our conscience stinging our hearts. Sometimes they arise when we see a vision of what life could be.
The latter reason prompted Mack Tario to say, “I wish I were 20 again, I would live my life a different way.”
He and his wife had just attended a performance of Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Detroit Opera House on Feb. 6.
He’s seen the performance four times. “But every show is different, of course,” he said.
Every year New York-based Shen Yun travels the globe with an entirely new program of traditional Chinese music and dance. Their mission is to restore their heritage, a culture believed to be divinely-bestowed, but that was nearly lost due to years of repression in China.
“Through the universal language of music and dance, Shen Yun weaves a wondrous tapestry of heavenly realms, ancient legends, and modern heroic tales, taking you on a journey through 5,000 years of Chinese culture. Its stunning beauty and tremendous energy leave audiences uplifted and inspired,” according to the company’s website.
Mr. Tario felt that program was excellent artistically, “It’s terrific, very finely choreographed, detailed technically, plus the talent of the artists.”
But it isn’t simply the quality of the performance that brings him back year after year. It is something more profound.
“It’s just something that hits here in the soul. It’s very stirring. It would almost bring you to tears at times,” he said.“There is nothing like it in the world. Nothing like it.”
People, he says, just don’t know enough about other cultures. “You know, the old expression, the East and West shall never meet.”
People today have lost their way, their connection, he believes: “Every other person is looking at their iPhone. Coming here, looking at their iPhones. What are you coming here for? You go to a restaurant today, and a family will come in and sit down, five or six of them and they are not talking to each other. They all have their iPhones out.”
Shen Yun, on the other hand, “It has to make you think,” he said. “It makes you think more; it makes you think before you do certain things.”
In addition to the company of dancers, Shen Yun also showcases award-winning singers.
Tonight, the moment in Shen Yun that touched him the most and made him think was a song sung by soprano Yu Ming, “Your Long-Awaited Song.”
“Very, very moving, very heartwarming. I wish I had a better command of the English language, I could express it better,” he said.
“There are so many things to do and see in this world, so many cultures to learn. I regret wasting my youth. Like the song went, wasting your time chasing wealth and success, you know,” he said.
Wishing again that he was a younger man, he would try to live his life differently.
“I think it is something that everyone should see.”
Reporting by Valerie Avore and Sharon Kilarski
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has four touring companies that perform around the world. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time. We have proudly covered audience reaction since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006
