SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

ZBI Advertising Owner Says Shen Yun Takes Him to a Different World

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ZBI Advertising Owner Says Shen Yun Takes Him to a Different World
Carlos Ariza and his companion enjoy Shen Yun Performing Arts at Fort Lauderdale’s Broward Center for the Performing Arts on Jan. 31. Kerry Huang/Epoch Times

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.—Carlos Ariza, president and owner of ZBI advertising company, has seen lots of shows, but this one—by the world’s premier classical Chinese dance company, Shen Yun Performing Arts—was extraordinary.

“It’s remarkable. I’ve never seen anything like that. For the first time in my life, I see something so completely different—the music, the orchestra, the dancing and choreography, the background—special,” he said.

Born in Venezuala, Mr. Ariza was attending Fort Lauderdale’s Broward Center for the Performing Arts on Jan. 31.

“Sophisticated dance techniques, an orchestra joining instruments from both the East and West, beautiful costumes, and a stunning back drop—this is Shen Yun at first glance,” the Shen Yun website reads.

“But digging deeper, one discovers a sea of traditional Chinese culture. Mortals and divine beings merge on stage as one. Principles such as benevolence and justice, propriety and wisdom, respect for the heavens, and divine retribution, all come to life, washing over the audience.”

Mr. Ariza became lost for words. “I’m so emotional, I don’t know what to say. On a scale of 1 to 10, I will give [Shen Yun] 10.5.”

China was once known as the Divine Land, its glorious culture said to have been brought down from the heavens. But under the last 60 years of atheist communist rule, this divinely inspired culture has been almost completely destroyed, according to the program book.

In response, leading Chinese artists from around the world came together in New York. In 2006, they decided on a mission to revive the true authentic Chinese culture with one company that today has expanded to four.

“I think that’s great—the great artists,” Mr. Ariza said of the artists and their mission. “And I feel really in a different world for us, in the Occident, the West. In this world, there has never been something like that—really amazing,” he said.

Reporting by Kerry Huang and Raiatea Tahana-Reese

New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has four touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit Shen Yun Performing Arts.

The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time. We have proudly covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.