Artist Johanny Velázquez said, “I think all that divinity people talk about is perfectly captured through dance and music.”
“I think it’s fantastic, beautiful, poetic, a colorful spectacle, but it’s also important because it brings together the best of the East, specifically China, with the best of the West,” Raúl Tortolero, a writer, said.
Pati Chapoy, a journalist, said, “And it was such a delightful, beautifully staged performance that now that they’re in Mexico, we came to see them. This is a truly fantastic show. The artistic expression of dance is one of the most beautiful forms there is because it requires not only physical skill but also facial expression to convey what is being communicated. And it was truly a beautiful experience. I congratulate you. It’s worth coming to see.”
Ms. Velázquez said, “Between the music, the dance, and the characters’ costumes in complementary colors, which echo the character who, in a way, is carrying the entire performance, right? I think it all plays a crucial role in seamlessly blending, that is, the emotion and feeling they want to convey to us.”
Ms. Chapoy said, “The orchestra is outstanding, truly outstanding. The instruments they use are fantastic. They’re very graceful in the way they’re performing. It’s something extraordinary. I hadn’t had the chance to hear it before.”
Ms. Velázquez said, “We know that there is beauty lying behind the conductor, as well as behind the orchestra director and the musicians, that it’s all an impressive display of coordination, and that they’ve brought a world-class show to Mexico.”
Founded in New York in 2006, Shen Yun is celebrating its 20-year anniversary. Over two decades, the company has performed on 5 continents, in over 200 cities and in front of over 11 million people. Theatergoers were grateful to see the show and shared their appreciation of the level of artistry and of the stories performed on stage.
Mr. Tortolero said, “There’s a magnificent convergence in this show, it has a high level of cultural depth and contributes to world peace.”
Ms. Chapoy said, “And the empathy these young people convey through their dances is truly beautiful, they deserve our heartfelt congratulations.”
Mr. Tortolero said, “I’ve been here once before, back in 2024, and I was also blown away. This year, let’s just say, everything has changed, and I’m really surprised, in a good way, that they’ve had the chance, in just one year, to create new music for each of the pieces, there are about 40 of them, to have such beautiful costumes, such beautiful backdrops, and above all, to choose the stories so well, because they always reflect humanity, don’t they?”
“There are many underlying messages. One of them, and the most important one, is freedom. And freedom cannot be compromised. Freedom allows each of us to live in our own little corner of the world, with our own opinions, for example, and our own ways of life. And it wasn’t just about freedom. There were so many more messages implied,” Ms. Chapoy said.
Mr. Tortolero said, “We leave with immense joy, a great sense of satisfaction at having been able to experience a show of international quality, it is the best of a meeting between China, between East and West.”
