“The show was amazing. The athleticism was amazing, the dance I loved, the music I loved. I really loved the message, the spirituality,” said Paul Brown, a psychiatrist. “And the thing that really struck me was the joy in the dancing and even in the point where they were oppressed or being beaten.”
John Foley, an office manager, said, “I think it was colorful, the music and the choreography was great. The orchestra, because I play in a 50-piece band, I loved the music part tremendously. And it was all really a great experience.”
Shen Yun’s mission is to revive 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture from before communism, through classical Chinese dance and music.
Mr. Brown said, “I much more appreciate the genuine Chinese culture to the culture that’s portrayed on TV now. I think that when you remove the spirituality from a people, you remove the hope, you remove the growth, the individuality, and the love, that you have a much more different view.”
Mr. Brown added, “I just love the way in which they look to love and to reward and the message was that doing right in this world will bring you to a better place, which is really my belief as well. So I loved that.”
“It’s good that they are bringing this to light and through the show, because it shows us that really, you know, so much more humanity behind all the different cultures,” said Mr. Foley.
Mr. Brown said, “The other thing that was amazing to me was the unity on the stage. I had never seen that. You’ll have 15 people on the stage, and every single one of them is so in sync with the other that it was exceptional.”
Juarez Ribeiro, the owner of Raquel’s Cleaning, said, “It opened my eyes, like what happened across the United States, and I believe it’s not only China that’s going through all these problems, and a type of government. And I wish this could open more people’s eyes.”
Mr. Foley said, “I think it’s important. I think that if the world, if all cultures were like that and we treated each other with kindness and respect, it would be just a much safer and better world to live in, and I think they showed that and depicted that.”
Mary Molloy, a consultant, said, “It made me happy. I don’t know what else to say other than the show made me absolutely happy, joyful, and excited.”
Mr. Brown said, “I’m looking forward to sharing it with my granddaughters, who are into dance, but I just want to say that the discipline that it takes is tremendous, but the results are so much worth it.”
