CURITIBA, Brazil—Jose Carlos, together with his wife, Nelice Castro, watched U.S.-based Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Teatro Positivo in Curitiba, Brazil, on April 26. It was the couple’s second time seeing Shen Yun.
“It was wonderful—truly wonderful. Very, very good!” Mr. Carlos said, describing the performance with enthusiasm. Among his favorite moments were the Monkey King’s return to Flower-Fruit Mountain, where he subdues demons, and a story set in ancient China about a girl who disguises herself as a boy in order to attend school and get an education.
“Everything is wonderful,” she said, noting her particular enjoyment of the ladies “Water Sleeves” dance.
For Mr. Carlos, beyond the artistry and storytelling, it was Shen Yun’s cultural and ethical themes that stood out most.
“We really like this Eastern culture. And their discipline is outstanding,” he said.
He said one particular theme—the idea of connecting to the divine—resonated strongly with him.
“There is a part that speaks about connecting to the divine. Regardless of your religious belief, I think it makes a lot of sense with what we believe. To detach from material things and focus more on spiritual growth. That is very important.”
From his perspective, that message has broader social implications.
“If we paid more attention to our spiritual growth—caring for others, thinking about others, and doing good—we would not be in the situation we are in today.”
Mrs. Castro said she was especially struck by themes of forgiveness, as well as the production’s emphasis on collective awareness rather than individual focus alone.
“It’s not only the individual, but the collective. People have their problems, but they can also grow. That is also part of the divine—being able to grow or develop. That kind of thing is not seen much anymore today,” she said.
As the interview concluded, Mr. Carlos expressed hope that Shen Yun would return to Brazil more frequently.
“I hope they come more often and continue spreading this message, so we can better understand this culture,” he said.
Mrs. Castro added a final note of encouragement. “I hope they continue evolving and bringing us more beautiful things to see.”
