PHILADELPHIA—Retired company owner Jeff Russell and his wife Debbie, a bank director, attended Shen Yun Performing Arts’ seventh performance at the Miller Theater.
Exiting the theater on the evening of March 15, the couple was speechless.
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. Russell thinks Shen Yun’s mission is wonderful because “art should reflect the reality of what’s going on in the world, what we can become, and what we’ve lost.”
“In order to move forward to the future, I think it’s important not to forget the past,” he added.
“I loved it, I absolutely loved it. It was wonderful—the dancing was absolutely amazing, and the message was also amazing. I really did enjoy it,” she said.
Reflecting on Shen Yun’s modern-day story dance raising awareness about the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution of Falun Gong—a peaceful spiritual practice whose followers uphold the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance, Mrs. Russell said she has heard of the struggles in China and the artists’ presentation was “really, truly amazing.”
“I didn’t know what to expect [walking into the show]. I just knew I wanted to see it,” she said.
“I think the most amazing thing is how much the artists put into the display of their dancing, singing, and music. It was just fantastic.”
