OKLAHOMA CITY—On Feb. 7, Dr. Francella Smoker, a consultant for quality and safety at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, attended Shen Yun Performing Arts for the first time. What she encountered, she said, was far more than a performance—it was an experience imbued with what she described as “divine beauty,” one that unfolded as a deeply moving spiritual journey.
That afternoon, Dr. Smoker—an award-decorated former U.S. Army captain and combat veteran—attended one of Shen Yun’s performances on its 2026 world tour at the OCCC Visual and Performing Arts Center Theater in Oklahoma City. She was joined by her husband, Edward Smoker, also a military veteran who works in Army logistics.
“The show had these little surprises,” she said. “For example, the orchestra was very different. I didn’t know it was live music, and that was just phenomenal. The singing and the instrumental solos truly touched my soul. I thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed it.”
“I never thought a two-string instrument could be so soothing,” she said. “It was indescribable. I had never thought about that before. It was just beautiful, and I really enjoyed it.”
After retiring from the U.S. Army with the rank of captain following multiple deployments, Dr. Smoker went on to receive numerous honors for her service. Today, she serves as a government consultant and registered nurse, while also maintaining a deep appreciation for the arts.
She praised the dancers’ discipline and precision, saying their artistry resonated strongly with her own sensibilities.
“The dancers were flawless,” she said. “I mean, no mistakes at all. They’re experts at what they do, and that really resonated with me because I love art. I also enjoyed the Buddhism, the spiritual journey, and everything the stories conveyed. I thoroughly enjoyed the performance.”
For Dr. Smoker, the experience of Shen Yun went beyond aesthetics, touching something deeply spiritual.
“I feel very strongly about the words ‘divine’ and ‘beauty,’” she said. “I’m on a spiritual journey myself, and this really spoke to me. It truly resonated.”
She described the performance as unlike anything she had encountered before.
“It was very different—very mellow and soothing, yet energetic in a gentle, flowing way,” she said. “I felt like I could just sit there and let it continue on and on. When the dancers moved into the background and you could see their activities bringing life into it, it really took you into another world—all in one show. That’s what made it so different and so unique.”
To Dr. Smoker, Shen Yun reveals the essence of true beauty and magnificence.
“It’s really about perfection,” she said. “More than anything else, it’s beauty—the beauty that’s all around us if we just open our eyes. True beauty is in the movement, in the color, in the flow. There was no hiccup. It was seamless—every part of it.”
She emphasized that the sense of beauty and spiritual energy while watching Shen Yun arose naturally, yet left a profound and lasting impression.
“It’s a spiritual kind of beauty,” she said. “You’re walking a path, and if you allow yourself to be open, it comes to you naturally. That’s what spoke to me.”
Dr. Smoker said she would wholeheartedly recommend Shen Yun to others.
“I would definitely recommend that others come and see it,” she said. “It’s a very unique experience.”
Her husband, Edward Smoker, echoed her sentiments. For him, the performance’s immersive quality stood out most.
“You feel like you’re part of the show, not just watching it,” he said.
Summing up his experience, he added simply, “It’s a very unique experience—very spiritual.”
