ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—International company owner Edgar Hyde had wanted to attend Shen Yun Performing Arts ever since first seeing its advertisement years ago. Although the plan was repeatedly delayed, he finally made it to the company’s evening performance at the Duke Energy Center for the Arts on Feb. 6.
It turned out to be everything he had hoped for. Mr. Hyde was delighted by the experience and said it was “a good decision.”
“It’s been great—fabulous. Very good,” he praised. “The group has done a fantastic job.”
He was especially moved by the story-based dance that raised awareness of the ongoing persecution of people of faith by the Chinese Communist Party in present-day China. The piece was all the more meaningful to him after learning that many of Shen Yun’s founding members had fled to America to escape persecution.
“I think they’re getting their message across. It’s very clear,” he said. “[Shen Yun is] exposing a lot of stuff that’s happening over there, and that’s still happening today. I like it a lot. The message is clear. The performance is great.”
As one of the world’s oldest civilizations, China’s 5,000 years of history are rich with breathtaking legends and time-honored traditions. Yet within just a few decades of the Chinese communists’ rise to power, much of this magnificent culture was destroyed.
The spread of atheism rapidly undermined belief in the divine, and the cherished virtues drawn from Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism were swept away.
Today, New York–based Shen Yun is working to revive this lost civilization and to bring back, through dance and music, the beauty of China before communism.
Mr. Hyde thought the performers’ mission is especially important because “there’s so much stuff that’s going on that people outside don’t know.” He also lamented that Shen Yun is banned from performing in China.
“It’s a sad situation because the people in China are not getting to see this performance and what it’s bringing to light,” he shared.
“I think the rest of the world will come in and go against the [persecution] that’s taking place in that country. So, [Shen Yun is] very impactful in exposing it and get the support of the people that are looking at it and then know about it.”
This season, Shen Yun’s eight touring companies are bringing their stunning performances to over 200 cities worldwide. With a brand-new program each year, the company’s 20th anniversary marks another season full of fresh surprises for both first-time and returning audiences alike.
When asked if he would like to leave a message for the artists, Mr. Hyde said, “I can only congratulate them and wish them the best and many blessings, because they’re doing a fantastic job.”
