SAO PAULO, Brazil—William Ortega de Souza, a dental surgeon, was amazed by the beauty and talent of Shen Yun Performing Arts when he attended the company’s performance at the Bradesco Theater on May 2.
“It’s incredible and far beyond what I expected,” he exclaimed. “The colors, the dance, the culture—we never imagined that [traditional China] has so much diversity. It’s really cool.”
Endowed with 5,000 years of history, China was once known as the “Land of the Divine.” For millennia, its people believed that by keeping their hearts pure and adhering to strict moral standards, they would be blessed by the divine.
“The girl singing—I connected very much to what she said. We forget that we came from the divine, that we are divine beings because we’re distracted by the mundane things [of life.] We forget what is our purpose,” he shared.
Inspired by the beautiful evening, Mr. de Souza is eager for traditional Chinese culture to spread around the world. For him, Shen Yun “brings a different feeling—good energy and a connection with the divine.”
“It gives that warm feeling in the heart—when we see culture really showcased. People need to know this beautiful culture, and that in [the artists’] own country, they can’t express themselves,” he added.
Though Shen Yun Performing Arts is well-beloved by audiences around the world, it is currently forbidden by the ruling Chinese regime from performing in China. In fact, many of Shen Yun’s founding members had fled to America to escape persecution by the communist party.
“It’s beautiful, because [the artists speak to] the hearts of many people. You make us think a little more about spirituality, culture, and diversity. Thanks for this very beautiful show.”
Also in attendance were lawyer Giovanni Oliveira and his wife, Laura, an executive secretary. The couple thoroughly enjoyed their evening.
“The show was incredible. The presentation was wonderful—it really was a breathtaking spectacle,” Mr. Oliveira said.
Mrs. Oliveira also found Shen Yun “very beautiful.” Above all, she expressed deep respect for the performers’ dedication.
“The artists are trained over many years,” she stated. “We can see that there was a lot of training, a lot of dedication, a lot of sacrifices. They gave up leisure, time with their family, and dedicated themselves to art.”
“I felt a feeling of peace, and at the same time, [the experience was] very rewarding,” he said. “I got the message about [Chinese people’s] fight against oppression. … It was very inspirational—all their courage and the strength were felt.”
The most important lesson Mr. Oliveira said he’ll be taking home from Shen Yun is that if we keep faith, work hard, and stay dedicated, “we can reach the divine in some way.”
