LOS ANGELES—Roddy Layton, principal of Gary High School, said of Shen Yun Performing Arts, “I really liked it. It was fun and truly wonderful—very beautiful and colorful.”
From the third performance by Shen Yun’s North America Company at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, Mr. Layton said he especially admired the physical skill and coordination required on stage. “I love watching the athleticism and coordination. It takes a lot of effort to become a disciplined performer on the stage.”
He attended the performance together with Assistant Principal Angel Romeo from the same high school and Mr. Romeo’s wife, Elizabeth Romeo, an elementary school teacher.
Mr. Layton explained that he brought students and several staff members to see Shen Yun after receiving an invitation, and that the experience was well worth it.
“I actually received an email about an opportunity to bring students to see Shen Yun, so we were very excited,” he said. “Our school has a lion and dragon dance club that performs at our school, at other schools, and in other cities. We’ve always wanted to bring students to performances like this. When we received the invitation, we brought our students and some staff members to watch the show.”
Assistant Principal Angel Romeo said he appreciated Shen Yun’s storytelling through art and found it especially meaningful from an educational perspective.
“As an educator, I think it’s very important not only to expose students to cultural experiences and the performing arts, but also to provide context,” he said.
“Between every scene, there was narration providing background and history. I really appreciated that because it helped me understand what I was about to see without giving everything away. I really enjoyed that.”
Elizabeth Romeo shared her husband’s appreciation for the historical explanations and artistic details. “I appreciated the historical context given before every scene,” she said. “I also loved the costumes. They made me feel like I was truly in the setting of the stories. I appreciate the arts, so it was a great experience.”
Mr. Layton observed that the spiritual theme expressed through Shen Yun was a powerful message about connecting with the Creator and being a good person, which really resonated with him.
“I feel blessed in my life,” he said. “I’m always thinking about how I can share those blessings, and I make sure to treat everyone I meet in a positive way.”
Mr. Romeo said he shared similar reflections. “There are many messages,” he said. “As Mr. Layton mentioned, being connected with the Creator is clearly an overarching theme throughout the performance.”
One particular dance left a strong impression on Mr. Romeo and offered a lesson he found especially meaningful.
“One theme I really enjoyed was not making assumptions,” he said. “In several scenes, the emperor appeared disguised as a noble or as a common person, and because he appeared ordinary, he was mistreated. For me, the message is to treat everyone equally and with respect, regardless of their status, social position, or economic background. That really resonated with me. There were many other messages as well, but that one stood out the most.”
Mrs. Romeo said the performance also inspired her as an educator in the arts. “I work with younger students, and this was a gentle reminder that we truly need to invest in the arts,” she said.
Mr. Layton and the Romeo couple all expressed deep appreciation to the Shen Yun artists for delivering such a beautiful artistic and spiritual experience, and offered their heartfelt thanks to the performers.
“Please tell them it was a very beautiful performance,” Mr. Layton said. “The choreography, the colors, the musicians—everything was wonderful. Thank you.”
Mr. Romeo added, “Congratulations on all your success! I truly admire and respect the discipline it takes to achieve such coordination and impeccable posture. I loved it.”
