SAN FRANCISCO—A family with deep personal and historical ties to China attended Shen Yun Performing Arts’ matinee at the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco on Jan. 3.
Ms. Brown said the matinee brought together all the female members of her family across three generations—eight in total—all attending Shen Yun for the first time. They considered it part of their New Year celebration.
“I thought it was very clever the way they combined the screen with the live performance,” she said, describing the effect of performers appearing to “fly into the screen and then come back out” as striking.
Ms. Celovsky said she understands and appreciates Shen Yun’s effort to revive traditional culture and showcase China before communism.
She noted that her prior knowledge of modern Chinese history helped her follow the storylines more easily.
When asked about Shen Yun’s efforts to educate American audiences about current events in China, both agreed that it is absolutely necessary.
Ms. Celovsky shared her family’s historical connection to China. In 1939, her grandparents traveled to southern China as missionaries and established an orphanage. They left shortly before the Japanese invasion.
“They had an enormous love for the Chinese people,” she said, noting that this experience was one of the most meaningful chapters of their lives.
Ms. Brown said that she is aware that China today is under “a very oppressive regime.”
