SAN ANTONIO—Educator Myrna Martinez attended Shen Yun Performing Arts’ third show at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts on Jan. 10. She felt the experience was highly educational and believes it would be very beneficial for younger generations.
The Shen Yun performers were “amazing. I loved the mix of the dance, the music, the orchestra. It was wonderful. I had a really, really good time,” she stated. “I’m from America, so I thought gymnastics was something that was born and introduced here. I was really intrigued to know that it was part of Chinese culture.”
“It’s actually making me really intrigued to go back and look up some of the traditions that they have in China.”
Based in New York, Shen Yun artists are highly trained in classical Chinese dance—an art form with a history spanning thousands of years, celebrated for its athleticism and expressive power.
According to the company’s website, the classical Chinese dance seen in China today is heavily mixed with military and modern styles. Only at Shen Yun can the audience experience it in its purest form, preserved as it was passed down through generations.
After learning about the artists’ mission to revive China’s 5,000 years of divine-inspired culture, nearly forced to the brink of extinction by the decades of communist rule, and to raise awareness of the ongoing persecution of people of faith in China today, Ms. Martinez said the performers are “doing a good job.”
The piece about the persecution is “sad, but it is educational,” she expressed. “I think it brings everybody together to hear different stories. Even though it’s hard to hear, it’s also really informational, and I think it brings a sense of unity for people.”
Although Shen Yun is beloved by audiences worldwide, it is currently banned by the Chinese Communist Party from performing in China. In fact, many of the company’s founding members fled the country to escape persecution.
Ms. Martinez commended the artists for their bravery and dedication.
“Any time any one of us has the opportunity to spread that message—you can do it on a stage like this globally—I think that’s a great thing that they’re choosing, to use their talents to tell people what they’ve gone through and what their experiences are,” she shared.
“I hope to see them again next year, and I hope that they continue dancing for people. It’s really enlightening, and you walk out of here with a different sense for what others are going through. It’s done so beautifully.”
She also urges anyone who hasn’t seen Shen Yun to seize the opportunity. “They need to come. They really need to come,” she said.
“They'll enjoy it, there’s something for everybody, and I think this is a great opportunity for people to come and have fun with their family, their loved ones. I had a really good time.”
