PHOENIX, Ariz.—On Feb. 15, Melissa McGrath attended Shen Yun for the first time at the Phoenix Orpheum after hearing great things about the show from her mother. Joining her for the evening was her friend Joseph Perrotti, a business owner.
Ms. McGrath has danced recreationally her entire life. What impressed her most throughout the performance was the Shen Yun dancers’ superb technique.
“The extensions that they did and just the movement of their feet—how light they were on their feet—you can recognize how good, trained and practiced. It just blew my mind,” she exclaimed.
“How they were all synced together—that’s so hard to do, and they were perfect every time. It was awesome.”
Once known as the “land of the divine,” Chinese people believed that their civilization was a gift from the heavens. For 5,000 years, China’s culture was built on the values and virtues inspired by the spiritual teachings of Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism.
However, after the CCP’s violent takeover in 1949, China’s traditional culture went through decades of systematic destruction.
Mr. Perrotti was moved by Shen Yun’s mission and thoroughly enjoyed the divine elements of the performance.
“We both liked that it was somewhat of a spiritual experience that gave us hope for a better life,” Mr. Perrotti stated.
Ms. McGrath, too, lamented the ban.
“It’s just really sad that they can’t do it in their own home. It’s very welcome here. It’s very appreciated,” she said, adding that the reason she loved Shen Yun is “because it wasn’t just dance and music, it was a story. That’s what made it so special.”
Referring to the three principles introduced in the performance—truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance—Mr. Perrotti said he resonated deeply with these values.
“The big takeaway for me is that [the show] is all about loving and serving each other. Different cultures can show compassion and get along with each other.”
