MONTGOMERY, Ala.—Global company director Stephanie Stepney and her husband Jason, a business owner, were amazed by the beauty of Shen Yun Performing Arts when they attended the company’s opening show at the Montgomery Performing Arts Centre on March 18.
“Honestly, I’m so impressed by the dancing skills and just the gracefulness and also the costumes are amazing … it’s absolutely beautiful,” Mrs. Stepney said during intermission.
“I’m very, very impressed. It’s very graceful, very elegant and I’m excited to see more. I’m glad that there’s more coming.”
Mr. Stepney, too, was enjoying the performance. He was particularly moved that, in addition to sharing traditional culture, the artists also raise awareness about human rights issues in present-day China under communist rule.
He believes it is important for everyone to learn about the ongoing persecution of people of faith by China’s ruling communist party, because “if we don’t know about it, [we] can’t do anything to change it.”
Based in New York, Shen Yun is the world’s top classical Chinese dance and music company. Presenting a brand-new set of programs each year, the company has been delighting audiences around the world since 2006.
In the decades since the communist regime seized power, Chinese culture was forced to the brink of extinction. The artists are now seeking to revive China’s 5,000 years of divinely inspired culture and showcase to the world the beauty of “China before communism.”
Alongside the story-based dances that bring legends from ancient times to life, Mrs. Stepney also loved the live Shen Yun orchestra, which seamlessly combined the best of Western and Eastern musical traditions.
“It’s very relaxing and it’s uplifting,” she said happily. “And I’m appreciating learning the story. I’m learning this all for the first time.”
According to the company’s website, Shen Yun’s orchestra is the first in the world to permanently combine ancient Chinese and Western instruments.
In Chinese characters, “medicine” and “music” share the same written character but with different pronunciations, reflecting the ancient belief that music is one of the earliest forms of medicine in the world.
Mrs. Stepney also appreciated the spiritual elements in Shen Yun. She was especially moved by the lyrics of the tenor solo, which explored themes of life and faith.
The strongest impression she’s taking away from the evening is a sense of hope. “I definitely want to learn more,” she said. “The message that I got is [to] leave atheism alone, leave evolution alone, and looking towards the Lord.”
If given the opportunity to speak with the performers, Mrs. Stepney said she would express her gratitude.
“Thank you for being here and showing me this performance and showing me your beautiful skills,” she said.
“I would thank them for sharing that with me, and [giving] me an opportunity to experience that, because if they weren’t here, I would not have ever seen the beauty [of classical Chinese dance.] We would have never known.”
“Keep doing what you’re doing,” Mr. Stepney concluded. “You’re inspiring some little girl or some little guy to carry on that tradition.”
