Sitting in the audience, Mr. Wride described the show as being “the Olympic of Chinese dance.” He loved every aspect of it.
“This is absolutely awesome. The tone, the music, the athleticism, the costumes, the choreography—it’s amazing,” he exclaimed. “I have seen this advertised before. This is our first time coming, and we’re having a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
The mission of New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts is to bring back China’s lost culture and its belief in the divine through beautiful art.
For thousands of years, Chinese people were very spiritual and believed that their culture was a gift from the heavens. Yet under the communist regime’s violent rule and the spread of atheism, China’s 5,000 years of traditional culture were forced to the brink of extinction.
“After having been here, just in the first five minutes, [I knew] it was all worth it,” he added.
“I see these people perform, and it does touch my heart that they’re so dedicated and so diligent in developing their skills. I’m amazed that human beings can develop their talent to such an extent.”
He gets a sense that between the artists there is a lot of “trust, confidence, cooperation, and appreciation for everybody doing their best.”
“I don’t think the world loves China for its religious background and beliefs—they’ve had a tough time. So, I appreciate that [Shen Yun] highlights their religious culture and spirituality. I liked that.”
Since its advent in 2006, the performing arts company has grown to become a global sensation, with eight equally sized companies set to perform in over 200 cities worldwide.
Ms. Wride, too, was touched by the dancers’ athleticism.
“Watching the dancers with so much control, poise, and strength—It was very beautiful,” she said, adding that the show was very peaceful and soothing.
Her life had been quite stressful lately, so Shen Yun was “inspiring to see.”
Reflecting on the artists’ mission to raise awareness for those still being persecuted for their faith by the Chinese Communist Party in present-day China, Ms. Wride said she felt a deep connection.
“As a person of faith, I could relate to that feeling—like I’m not allowed to stand up for what I believe in,” she expressed.
