MESA, Ariz.—Joe and Darla Guinn, owners of a fleet management company and staffing agency, watched Shen Yun Performing Arts for the first time on Feb. 4 at the Ikeda Theater at Mesa Arts Center. They both felt “stirred” and “touched” by Shen Yun’s beauty and profound message.
Mr. Guinn marveled at the opening scene, which “almost took his breath away.” He described that as “the curtains opened at the first act, the stage was flooded to represent the sky, the colors of the women’s dresses were just so vivid, it almost took my breath away. It was amazing!”
“The movements and the choreography, the stories through the dance, has just been exceptional.” Mr. Guinn said.
Mr. and Mrs. Guinn were deeply stirred by this theme and found that it resonated with their beliefs.
“What was beautiful was in the story of the religion. I found the common thread of our culture,” Mr. Guinn said. “There is the recognition that man needs salvation, and that was actually very beautiful.”
Mrs. Guinn also recognized the common theme “about needing a Creator and seeking for the divine to really intervene. Clearly, that’s coming across on the stage and also in our belief as well.”
“I think that everyone is seeking that, whether they realize it or not; I believe it is innate in each person.” Mrs. Guinn continued, “and so I believe any time something touches on that, it stirs deep within the person viewing it. You can’t help but to be stirred and to be touched that way.”
As for the ongoing persecution in China, Mr. Guinn said, “I can’t imagine not being able to practice religion openly and freely; my heart hurts for the realization that there are close to a billion people in China who cannot practice and worship the way that they desire to. It hurts.”
