SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Survivor of Near-Death Experience Receives Gift of Seeing Shen Yun

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Survivor of Near-Death Experience Receives Gift of Seeing Shen Yun
Luis and Sandra Almodovar attended Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts in San Antonio, Texas, on Jan. 13, 2024. Sally Sun/The Epoch Times

SAN ANTONIO, Texas—A performance of Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts in San Antonio, Texas, on Jan. 13 was very special for one special lady. Mrs. Almodovar, a former biochemist and currently an assistant elementary school principal, had startling words for the performance: “Now I can die in peace.”

Mrs. Almodovar had a near-death experience during the birth of her child and was brought back to life. “One of my lifelong dreams before that was to attend a Shen Yun performance, but I was not able to, either because of travel or because of my kids. I actually passed away giving birth to my daughter, [but] I was brought back,” she said.

Mr. Almodovar, a biomedical electronic technician, made it his business to grant his wife her wish. “My husband, for my birthday [bought tickets] because my birthday was this week. This is my birthday present, and he said no more,” Mrs. Almodovar said.

She said that Shen Yun surpassed her expectations as a wonderful birthday gift. “Thank you. It was beyond, beyond anything that I could have ever expected.” And her husband agreed.

Mrs. Almodovar had many feelings during the performance. “I was joyful, tearful. I wanted to jump out of my seat. It’s … a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” she said.

Mr. Almodovar said everything in Shen Yun’s performance contributed to a wonderful experience for both of them. “The meaning of all the dance—everything! Even the choreography, the background, and the music—especially the music. It’s so peaceful. It brings peace to the soul and enjoyment. It’s beyond words.”

Shen Yun moved Mr. Almodovar deeply. “It is very touching. It touches deep down into you, to the heart and soul,” he said.

Mrs. Almodovar said Shen Yun gave meaning to her life as if she was reborn. “It definitely gave me meaning,” she said. “Yes, it’s a reborn experience. [Shen Yun] definitely teaches you about kindness, about being there for one another, and most importantly, respect. For me, it embodied what we need to be doing as human beings for one another.”

Mrs. Almodovar said she got a mission after her near-death experience. She works with the behavior of special needs children at an elementary school. “Before my experience ... I was actually a biochemist. So now, instead of working in a laboratory, I’m actually helping kids with special needs. So I changed careers completely. Now you can say I’m helping others. I’m trying to make a difference in this world through kindness.”

Through classical Chinese dance and music, Shen Yun is sharing with the world the beauty of China’s authentic 5,000 years of history. Since its founding in 2006, the company has received worldwide accolades for its mission to revive traditional Chinese culture.

She said her experience may have taken her to another dimension. “I definitely felt like that. And seeing all of that and seeing how… obviously I’m Christian. And seeing how God gave me a second chance in life to make a difference. It definitely, definitely… You know this is an affirmation of what I have to do now.

“It definitely affirms the mission and the purpose,” she said. Shen Yun gave Mrs. Almdovar a special message: “That through unity, through compassion, I can definitely help others see that that’s the way to go, instead of being rude and being selfish, that we need to be loving, caring, and most importantly give of ourselves so that we can help [those we care for] to see the light within us.”

The Almodovars purchased an annual subscription to Shen Yun Zuo Pin, Shen Yun’s online video platform. “We purchased the yearly subscription,” Mrs. Almodovar said, “and while I was watching the show I said immediately: ‘Oh, my kids need to see this. My babies need to see it.’
With shows scheduled in over 200 cities and across five continents, the 2024 touring season is shaping up to be the artists’ busiest yet.
Reporting by Sally Sun and Yvonne Marcotte.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.
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