PHILADELPHIA—Since 1995, the people of Pennsylvania’s District 2 have tapped Christine Tartaglione to represent them in their State Senate. For these 25 years and counting, Tartaglione has garnered numerous awards for her public service, including the prestigious “John F. Kennedy Memorial Award” by the Kennedy Foundation.
Shen Yun, ‘You could feel the spirit in the dance’
Shen Yun is based in New York and takes as its mission the revival of traditional Chinese culture. Through the highly-expressive art form of classical Chinese dance, the artists are able to convey the rich emotions and grand heritage of Chinese people’s 5,000 years of civilization.This authentic culture was once almost lost at the hands of the Chinese Communist Party who has attempted to wipe out among the people its physical presence but more importantly, its deep spiritual roots as well. Traditional Chinese culture is profoundly spiritual and has been called divinely-inspired. Shen Yun continues these traditions on stage and off by incorporating heavenly beings and themes in its production and because its artists have taken up the spiritual discipline known as Falun Dafa in their daily lives.
Senator Tartaglione felt cultivated energy throughout the theater as she took in Shen Yun’s performance.
“I have to tell you I am inspired. I really am, You could feel the spirit in the dance and it comes across and you can feel it. I don’t know how to explain it. You want to get up and you want to be able to be a part of it.”
“It was so moving and I can see the divinity. As the show went, I saw the spirituality coming out. I was extremely impressed and I’m grateful to be here. I actually, when the beams of light came out, I could actually feel them going through me. I was moved that much,” Tartaglione said.
Shen Yun Sold Out Night After Night
When it came to the artistic elements in Shen Yun, Tartaglione had high praise.“I have never seen dancing like that. And I didn’t realize tumbling originated with this type of dance.”
She called the tenor of the evening phenomenal. “I’m glad [they] put the words up so that I could actually see what he was saying. It gave you hope. I’m telling you they gave me hope, the lyrics. Thank you.”
“The woman with the wooden instrument with only two strings [the erhu]—I could not believe the sound coming out of there for such an ancient instrument. It was really, really beautiful.”
Shen Yun is nearing the end of a month-long run of performances in Philadelphia and most have been sold out, a fact that made Tartaglione observe that the performance contains something that Philadelphians want.
“[Shen Yun] sold out every night so obviously people want to come and they want to learn and they want to see and they want to feel,” she said.
“I think you need to continue and to continue and to continue so everybody understands exactly what this art form is. ... I think everybody should see it,” she said.
