SALT LAKE CITY—Former Mrs. Utah America and dance teacher Natalie Murray was awestruck by the athleticism and skillset that was shown by Shen Yun’s classically trained dancers—but what she took away most was Shen Yun’s message.
“I felt like it’s really trying to fight for the freedom of the people of China, even though they’re not here.
“That’s what I’m getting from it, is freedom, independence, hope and peace from everything.”
But this glorious culture was almost lost under communism.
“I don’t know much about Chinese culture. But it feels like it’s really bringing that into the story and telling us what it is all about. And I just love it. I think it’s awesome,” Mrs. Murray, who won Mrs. Utah America in 2015, said.
Mrs. Murray was particularly drawn to Shen Yun’s depiction of modern China and the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.
“It makes me sad for the people who are experiencing that. And I know we have some of that stuff here, but not quite in the same way here in the United States.”
“The people behind it are really trained to fight for the freedom of people in China. It is really cool that they are still training to keep that traditions and their culture alive,” Mrs. Murray said.
Meanwhile, husband Lance Murray echoed Mrs. Murray’s sentiments.
“There is a peacefulness to it and a message of unity in hope,” Mr. Murray said.
“It’s amazing to me, being a dancer myself. I see some of the stuff they’re doing and I’m like, ‘man, that would just wear me out and make me exhausted.’ But I love it. It’s awesome. You can tell that they worked really, really hard to get to where they’re at.”
