BURGOS, Spain—“If I had to choose one word to sum up the show, it would be magic,” actor and singer Rubén Quintanilla Ojeda said after seeing Shen Yun Performing Arts. Having worked at the Fórum Evolución Theatre for many years, he described Shen Yun as something entirely different from anything he had experienced before.
On the evening of March 19, Shen Yun presented its third performance of the season at the Fórum Evolución Theatre in Burgos, northern Spain. After the show, Mr. Quintanilla said the performance was both moving and visually striking, combining artistic excellence with a message of kindness and hope.
He noted that while he initially expected the performance to focus mainly on dance, it surpassed those expectations through its integration of multiple artistic elements.
Through classical Chinese dance, ethnic dance, and storytelling, Shen Yun brings to life traditional values such as filial piety, kindness, truthfulness, and loyalty.
Drawing on his background in the performing arts, Mr. Quintanilla said the show also conveyed deeper cultural and moral themes.
“It’s totally overwhelming, and it’s not just the show itself, but the culture that reflects all those teachings of Chinese culture,” he said. “And for me, there’s one very important thing and a key message: that when everything falls apart, we have to turn to kindness—to kindness and faith. … I think that message has come across very clearly and is very inspiring.”
He said the final scene, which depicts the Creator’s salvation during times of peril, left the deepest impression on him.
“It’s the final moment when that divine image has appeared,” Mr. Quintanilla said. “I believe it’s a call to hope, especially in these times we’re living through with so many wars and conflicts. … I think that message of hope really touched me, because I believe we’re all more sensitive these days. So I think this was the grand finale this show deserved.”
“I actually consider myself a very spiritual person,” he said. “I think we all have a spiritual side—whether it’s more latent or more hidden. So I think it can also be a way for many people to discover part of their spirituality, because I believe this show brings that spiritual side a little more into the light.”
“I think it’s a highly recommended show precisely for that reason—to disconnect from everything we carry on our shoulders,” he said. “It’s an invitation for people to give this show a chance, because they’re really going to go on a huge emotional journey. And I think we need this kind of show because art transforms, and we really need to experience that transformation to break away from the most hostile parts of ourselves.”
Summing up the experience, Mr. Quintanilla described it in vivid, poetic terms.
“I think this show can be summed up as a source of light, of belief, of magic, and above all, color,” he said.
