ESCONDIDO, Calif.—San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan attended Shen Yun for the first time on the evening of Feb. 10, at the California Center for the Arts. Equally impressed by the performers’ artistry and the show’s message, Ms. Stephan said
Shen Yun was absolutely stunning.
“It was a beautiful event, a really moving event,” she said. “[The performance] was artistic and it gives you hope for a better future for China and the whole world—a future where people can express themselves and be proud of their traditions.”
Shen Yun Performing Arts was
founded in 2006 by a group of elite Chinese artists who had fled the persecution of China’s communist regime. For years, these artists have dreamt of reviving the glory of China’s 5,000 years of civilization.
In the free world, their mission blossomed. Since its establishment in 2006,
Shen Yun has met with widespread praise and acclaim. Now the world’s leading classical Chinese dance and music company, these New York-based artists are slated to perform in more than 180 cities on their world tour this year.
Ms. Stephan loved that Shen Yun is bringing back
traditional culture, and was also touched by how the artists are now “able to express things that they weren’t able to express in their own country.”
“Being able to express and feel proud of the different cultures, ethnicities, and religious faiths are very important values [for Americans],” Ms. Stephan said. She was happy that
Shen Yun chose New York as their home base, and from there, went on to present their culture to the world.
However, for reviving traditional culture and speaking the truth about what is going on in modern-day Chinese society, Shen Yun is banned from
performing in China.
Referring to Shen Yun’s presentation of the divine and its impact on society, Ms. Stephan said while the performance made people really appreciate Chinese culture and the beauty of its art form, “it also made you think about the importance of [freedom] and to not ever take that for granted.”
“I think, looking at it in a wider way, it shows that people should be able to express their faith and religion. No government should take that away,” Ms. Stephan said. “That’s part of humanity—the art, the culture, and the love for your family. It’s [something] we all experience.”
“From the artistic perspective, [Shen Yun] was stunning, and from the perspective of appreciating the freedom of expression, it was very special. A very moving experience,” she said.
Reporting by Jane Yang and Jennifer Tseng.
