BOISE, Idaho—Audience members shared their thoughts after seeing Shen Yun Performing Arts in Boise, Idaho, on Feb. 18 and 19.
“I think they’re nailing it 100 percent,” said Idaho state Representative Brent Crane.
“It’s been fascinating to watch them talk about how some of these dances go back 5,000 years to think that these were traditional Chinese dances that their ancestors were performing thousands of years ago and then watch them perform that today is absolutely amazing,” Rep. Crane said.
“Beautiful. Mesmerizing—I think is the word that I’d be looking for,” said Justin Brunsch, owner of Better Air NW.
“The fact that they can all dance and stay together and not mess up and not fall over—it’s incredible. They’re very athletic, and definitely have put a lot of time and effort Into putting the performance together so that it can come off flawlessly like it did,” said Bradley Oakes, owner of Sleet Fleet Washing.
Ralph May, executive director at St. Vincent de Paul Southwest Idaho, said Shen Yun’s story was powerful.
“It stirred me very deeply. It captured me down to my soul in so many ways. Just the power, and the flow, and the movement back and forth and the powerful story that was being told in each one of the segments,” May said.
At the Morrison Center for the Performing Arts, the New York-based Shen Yun shows China before communism.
Shen Yun was founded by artists who practice Falun Gong, an ancient spiritual tradition currently being persecuted in China.
“Freedom of speech and freedom of religion are two tenets of our government and I think it’s important even when we disagree with people that you allow them to have those performances because someone is trying to convey a message or a thought, and art can have the ability to do that and I think it’s very important that you have the ability to express yourself, and your idea, and your thought,” Rep. Crane said.
“Anytime you can get a message out about what’s going on with persecution I think it’s a great avenue of doing that,” said business owner Brunsch.
Genuine traditional Chinese culture drew inspiration from the divine, which audience members identified with.
“It was fascinating to watch them weave and how important faith is as part of their culture,” Rep. Crane said.
“Obviously, the Chinese have an understanding of afterlife and that there’s consequences and so we could identify with that,” said Bert McDowell, owner of
McDowells Specialty Repair.
“I think that the piece where the cell phones were out was a very powerful signal and caused people to stop and think because you could see yourself in that very piece. You could see the detachment we have from the divine through our own devices and all of the distractions that exist in our modern world,” May said.
Among the dance stories, instrument solos and vocal pieces, patrons reflect on what they took away from the performance.
“Part of the song was that she was traveling along in a canoe, and life is good, and then dark times come and that light, that goodness will save you in dark times,” said Steve Walker, owner of Walker Financial Insurance Group.
“I think people are a lot more connected spiritually than we realize because there are so many differences between different religions, but I think a lot of people have that same thought and feeling on where they came from, where they’re going, and why they’re here,” said Mr. Oakes.
“Everybody should see this production. It’s one of the best, and every year it keeps getting better,” said Edward Williams, music promoter and owner of “Metal Ed” Productions. This was his third time watching the performance.
“And who does the wardrobe? Because they’re magnificent too, by the way. It’s beautiful,” Williams said.
NTD News, Boise, Idaho
