Shen Yun Performing Arts packed the theater in Claremont, California with four performances from March 10 to 12.
Some audience members thought it was a celebration of culture.
“I’ve been so waiting to finally see it. So tonight was a special night,” said entrepreneur Robert Akscyn.
“And I learned a lot because basically, the show is very thought-provoking, is extraordinarily visual, and has lots of aesthetics to it,” he said.
Ernie Braunwalder, owner of Braunwalder Insurance and Financial Services, said he loved the choreography and the colors.
“It’s all done very well,” he said. “The storyline is fantastic as well. So it’s a good show. I’m glad I came.”
Dennis Wallstrom, a psychologist at The New Mind Whole Person Psychological Care, thought the artistry was remarkable.
He said he “realized China is not just one culture, one story, there are different cultural aspects. And I love to see those celebrated and appreciated.”
Timothy Vanette, a production sound mixer, said the performance was “fantastic.”
He said, “I really enjoyed it quite a bit. I like the colors. I really enjoyed the dancing. The singing was really nice. And the orchestra was just cool, man.”
Shen Yun’s performers depict a China before communism—telling stories of its 5,000-year ancient past in a variety of ways.
The performances are inspired by ancient China’s reverence for the divine.
“I appreciate the traditions of every culture and religion that aspires to a higher recognition,” said Mr. Wallstrom.
“It’s not just … a material world. There’s a spiritual world. And you can’t force it out of people,” he said. “It’s been there for a very long time.”
Mr. Akscyn liked the spirituality of the performances and their depiction of a respect for truth.
“That sort of transcends the individual in the sense that it’s the truth out there rather than just the truth that we believe is what we think,” he said.
“People have the notion of believing in yourself, staying true to yourself, not selling your soul,” he added.
Shen Yun performs next in Long Beach and other cities in California, Idaho, and Oregon.
NTD News, Claremont, California
