TUCSON, Ariz.—On Feb. 10, Shen Yun Performing Arts opened the second of its three consecutive performances at the Linda Ronstadt Music Hall.
Among the attendees were Stephen Prater, a health insurance broker, and Shannon Sportsman, a caregiver. This was their first time experiencing the show and they found it thoroughly enjoyable.
“It moved me to tears,” Ms. Sportsman said. “The colors were beautiful. The girls with the orange and yellow dresses and the long sleeves—it looked like they were dancing fire. They were so graceful.”
For 5,000 years, China’s civilization flourished under the shared belief that the divine will bless those who uphold traditional moral values. Tragically, within just a few decades of the communist party’s violent takeover, these beliefs were erased and replaced with atheism.
Mr. Prater thought this message came through loud and clear in the performance.
“They displayed it perfectly. In America, we’d better watch it. We need to prevent communism [from entering,]” he said, adding that seeing it onstage was “overwhelming and humbling.”
“That it’s scary because you want to show your faith and beliefs and be true to who you are, but you’re living in fear,” Ms. Sportsman expressed.
“I see what the [Chinese people’s] traditions are—they value being humble and kind. I like how they place a value on certain morality, not only honoring family but staying faithful. That really spoke to me.”
“I thought it was fabulous. I’ve always wanted to know what that instrument looked like,” he said. “It almost makes you cry to hear it.”
In addition to recommending the show to his friends and family, Mr. Prater would love to see more of Shen Yun in the future.
“The takeaway is I want to see part two,” he said.
Met with wide acclaim since its establishment in 2006, the company can be expected to return with a brand-new set of choreography and musical compositions every year.
