SACRAMENTO, Calif.—On the evening of March 26, the Shen Yun Performing Arts company began a five-performance run at the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center in Sacramento, attracting audience members from across the community. Among them were Veronica Sandor, the CEO of the Life Flower Foundation, and Michael Porrazzo, the foundation’s chief technology officer. The couple is also a technology company partner focused on connecting people in remote regions.
Ms. Sandor was immediately struck by the performance’s visual and musical harmony. “Seeing such beautiful colors, dance movements, and music all come together is truly a very soothing experience,” she said.
Mr. Porrazzo said that this was their second time attending Shen Yun, after years of hoping to see it again. “Today is her birthday, so being able to come and see this performance is really a very special moment,” he said.
Ms. Sandor recalled first seeing Shen Yun in Atlanta in 2019 and waiting years to experience it again. “It’s been seven years since I saw it, and I’ve been waiting and waiting. It’s so wonderful to see it again,” she said. “The performance is truly a treasure—something extraordinary.”
The couple said Shen Yun’s mission strongly resonated with them. Ms. Sandor remarked, “It’s very important to preserve these things. They’re treasures. We believe every culture brings a gift that should be treasured, and this is a very big gift to witness.”
Building on this, she added that watching the art forms of ancient China was a wonderful experience, and that the country’s traditions carry a great deal of wisdom.
Traditional Chinese culture emphasizes the wisdom of balancing opposite forces, such as Yin and Yang. Ms. Sandor observed this unique balance expressed in classical Chinese dance. “The movements are soft and strong at the same time… like the soft shaping the hard, like the water shaping the rocks,” she said. “Very special. It’s wisdom. There’s strength in softness and loving kindness.”
Her observation and understanding align with the philosophy of the Tao Te Ching, in which Laozi said, “The gentle overcomes the forceful.”
Expanding on the broader significance of the performance, Mr. Porrazzo praised both Shen Yun and The Epoch Times, the media that report on it, for playing an important role in promoting truth and tradition. “In these challenging times, you are a light in a world where it is difficult to discern truth,” he said.
He went on to say that performances like Shen Yun offer audiences a chance to reflect inwardly. “A show like Shen Yun gives us an opportunity to see how we can discipline our hearts and minds in modern times,” he said. “Through movement, through dance, through acts of kindness… that can make all the difference.”
He was particularly moved by the themes conveyed through the dance stories. “One of the themes I saw so wonderfully presented tonight was that in the face of brutality and harshness, people respond with loving kindness,” he said.
“That spirit of redemption is always there,” he added. “No weapon forged against the good can ever prosper.”
New Perspective on Chinese Culture
Ms. Sandor noted that Shen Yun also reshaped her perspective on Chinese culture. “Seeing the Creator honored in ancient Chinese art is so beautiful,” she said. “We don’t usually think of China that way… so it is very comforting to know this is at the root of the Chinese culture.”He also highlighted the soprano’s performance that left a strong impression. “The message that atheism is foolishness is very powerful,” he said. “When you consider how the human body is designed, how can you not believe in a Creator?”
“They’ve brought so much beauty to the world,” Ms. Sandor said. “I know how much effort it takes to put together a production like this. They’ve done an amazing job. It’s really a sensation!”
Mr. Porrazzo echoed her sentiment, emphasizing the importance of the company’s mission. “Truth matters,” he said. “If we follow that moral compass in how we think and act toward others, it becomes a beacon of hope that we can truly cherish.”
