SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun Is ‘All About Loving and Serving Each Other,’ Says Business Owner

SHARE
Shen Yun Is ‘All About Loving and Serving Each Other,’ Says Business Owner
Joseph Perrotti and Melissa McGrath enjoyed Shen Yun's evening performance at the Phoenix Orpheum on Feb. 15, 2024. Linda Jiang/The Epoch Times

PHOENIX, Ariz.—On Feb. 15, Melissa McGrath attended Shen Yun for the first time at the Phoenix Orpheum after hearing great things about the show from her mother. Joining her for the evening was her friend Joseph Perrotti, a business owner.

Ms. McGrath has danced recreationally her entire life. What impressed her most throughout the performance was the Shen Yun dancers’ superb technique.

The artists are highly trained in classical Chinese dance. Dating back thousands of years, it is one of the most expressive art forms in the world.

“The extensions that they did and just the movement of their feet—how light they were on their feet—you can recognize how good, trained and practiced. It just blew my mind,” she exclaimed.

“How they were all synced together—that’s so hard to do, and they were perfect every time. It was awesome.”

The New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts was established in 2006 by leading Chinese artists who had fled the persecution of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Once known as the “land of the divine,” Chinese people believed that their civilization was a gift from the heavens. For 5,000 years, China’s culture was built on the values and virtues inspired by the spiritual teachings of Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism.

However, after the CCP’s violent takeover in 1949, China’s traditional culture went through decades of systematic destruction.

Now in the free world, these artists are seeking to revive traditional Chinese culture and bring to the stage through dance and music the glory of pre-communist China.

Mr. Perrotti was moved by Shen Yun’s mission and thoroughly enjoyed the divine elements of the performance.

“We both liked that it was somewhat of a spiritual experience that gave us hope for a better life,” Mr. Perrotti stated.

“We discussed why [the show] wasn’t allowed in China. It’s because it is a communist and atheist society. [Shen Yun] is trying to give us hope and get us in touch with a higher power.”

Ms. McGrath, too, lamented the ban.

“It’s just really sad that they can’t do it in their own home. It’s very welcome here. It’s very appreciated,” she said, adding that the reason she loved Shen Yun is “because it wasn’t just dance and music, it was a story. That’s what made it so special.”

Referring to the three principles introduced in the performance—truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance—Mr. Perrotti said he resonated deeply with these values.

“The professionalism [of the artists] was amazing. I know it’s a lot of sacrifice for them to do what they do,” he said.

“The big takeaway for me is that [the show] is all about loving and serving each other. Different cultures can show compassion and get along with each other.”

Reporting by Linda Jiang and Jennifer Tseng.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.
Related Topics
shen yun
SHARE