SACRAMENTO, Calif.—Shen Yun Performing Arts concluded its performances in Sacramento on Jan. 27 at the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center. Here’s what audience members had to say on the last two days.
“Breathtaking. The athleticism, the grace, the costumes, the show, the digital background was just incredible. I’m out of words. It was so amazing. It made me cry,” said Tess Dubois-Carey, campus president at Universal Technical Institute.
“The athleticism of the dancers blows me away, and I like the historical, cultural stuff going on here that you don’t ever see here in the U.S.,” said Jeffrey Anderson, an attorney.
“It’s so heartfelt and meaningful,” said Brandy Sanders, scholarship coordinator at Nevada Joint Union High School District. “And the stories are just amazing. And you really can feel the emotion and the story. And it’s just beautiful.”
Shen Yun showcases 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture on stage. It depicts dances and stories from different ethnic groups and dynasties. Much of the ancients’ inspiration came from the divine.
“It showed me something about Chinese culture that I didn’t know before,” said Michael Garcia, assistant principal at Linda Elementary in Marysville, California. “That there was a spirituality about Chinese culture that I was not aware of. And it’s very, very beautiful.”
“It’s interesting to see what people believed 2,000 or 1,000 years ago. And how it seems to transcend all cultures as far as having some type of faith,” said Peter Palka, a physician.
“I think the connection that the dancers had with each other and the music and having it all tied together in such a beautiful profound way really resonated for me. It was incredible,” said Ms. Dubois-Carey.
“I just think that the challenges we’re facing in the world all over really just kind of brings attention to morality and faith and virtue and I think people can easily get distracted from that,” said Hugh Baker, a detective sergeant from Marin County, California. “And so this is an opportunity to see in a very beautiful way that connection to that traditional faith and morality.”
Under the Chinese Communist Party, Shen Yun cannot perform in China today. But to those who live abroad, Shen Yun shines light into ancient and modern-day China.
“I think I feel a little bit of a little bit of hope but I think I also feel a little bit of sadness that I know there’s, you know, hundreds of millions of people that might connect to this history and tradition and faith but don’t maybe have the ability to do that. And I also feel very blessed to live here in America where we do have that freedom,” said Mr. Baker.
“The way society is going and how they emphasize that they’ve lost some freedoms, I think it’s very important for people to realize that, with what’s happening in the world today,” said Mr. Palka.
“I feel blessed to be able to see something like this,” said Mr. Garcia. “Seeing it live is just amazing with the music. We had wonderful seats. The music, we were right next to the music and right next to the stage. It was very, very beautiful.”
“What they’re doing is bringing positivity into people that come see the show,” said Ms. Dubois-Carey. “And that’s the way I’m feeling leaving, is positivity and happiness.”
NTD News, Sacramento, California
