Walt Peters, retired director of sales and marketing at an aerospace company, attended New York-based Shen Yun for a second time. “I had to come back. I was here last year and it was just, it was superb,” he said.
Michael Matus, a vice president of sales and customer service, and his wife, Jean, were pleasantly surprised by Shen Yun.
“I didn't really know the background of it until I got here but I thought the journey through the 5,000 years of Chinese history before communism was wonderful,” Mr. Matus said.
Mrs. Matus added, “It was stunning, very, very beautiful. So talented, all of them. I know I said, 'Wow,' a lot during the show. It was amazing.”
Dr. Krishna Sankaran, a nephrologist and a professor at the University of Illinois, Chicago, shared how he came to the performance. “My mother has seen this three times at age 88, and she basically insisted on buying me tickets for my birthday. And I'm extremely glad I came. Absolutely delightful performance.”
Dr. Sankaran stated, “In any performance like this, sometimes you don't notice the orchestra, but of course, if they were not there, you would notice. It makes everything flow and everything much more enjoyable.”
The Matuses admired a soloist’s performance on the erhu, a two-string Chinese violin. Jean remarked, “It's hard to believe that all of that music had come out of two strings and two hands. It was beautiful.”
Mr. Matus shared the same sentiment. “I thought it was beautiful, and she was a beautiful performer and did a fantastic job.”
Audience members were enchanted by Shen Yun’s innovative technology, integrating the stage performance with a state-of-the-art animated backdrop.
Mark Holm, a retired agency manager, applauded the technology’s inventor: "When they go to the back of the stage, they jump into the pit and rise up on the screen. Whoever put that together really, really did well.”
Mr. Peters echoed, “The blending into the screen also is just excellent, very, very good use of technology.”
Mr. Peters reflected on one of the themes, stating, “It portrays the communists for what they are, and portrays the opposite, if you will, the good of capitalism, the good of freedom, freedom of speech, freedom to worship as you please.”
Mrs. Matus felt similarly, “When they talked about parts of this dance that are not allowed in China, I just think that's so sad. We're all human, we all love, we all bleed, we should all dance.”
Michael added, “To me, what I walked away with was the overwhelming beauty of China and in the hope that the spirit that was shown for the 5,000 years still lives on, even though you may not see it.”
“I would say delightful work connecting people and just showing enjoyment for people,” Dr. Sankaran said. “Absolutely keep it up. Keep the tradition going and expand.”
