“I think it’s good that there is an opportunity to build this performance and bring it all around the world. It means that it can reach millions of people and touch their hearts," said Dace Melbārde, Latvia's Minister of Education and Science, who also served as the country's Minister of Culture (2013-2019).
"Since we live in the digital era, I believe it also reaches out to people living in China as well," she said. "I hope it will bring over the message of peace. I think a main role of culture is to bring people closer and to bring culture closer and build dialogue through culture."
Raimonds Martinovs, a ballet dancer and choreographer, said, “I think that this is one of those things that we should appreciate, that we have freedom of speech. In Latvia, we also have Article 100. So, to express one’s opinion, no matter how uncomfortable it may be for others, is at the core of human rights. So it seems to me that works like these are also very important in order to understand that one must also fight for one’s rights, stand up for them, fall, and rise again.”
“I really enjoy that it is based on traditional culture. Actually, I can relate this to Latvian traditional culture, which is based on the circle of life. Latvian traditional culture is also very close to nature. We also, in our folk songs and in our stories, we illustrate a lot of the interactions between people, life and everything going on in nature,” Ms. Melbārde said.
Mr. Martinovs said, “the Divine aspect was unmistakable, and that those sincere, kind-hearted values definitely have to be placed above material values, and that everyone must maintain their own essence, their own mission. Yes, this was very clearly expressed in all of these works.”
“Very, very wonderful—especially at this time, when the external situation is so terrible, with all these wars in the world and so much negativity. This performance is so beautiful, light, impressive, and it encourages a return to spiritual values. Truly lovely,” said Aija Rozena, the former director of the Public Law Department at the Ministry of Justice. “I think it really is the uniqueness of the Chinese style, and it’s wonderful to see it here in Latvia, live. You may have seen it in films or on television, but it’s not the same. It is truly wonderful that your people want to preserve the values of previous centuries.”
Shen Yun’s orchestra is a unique blend of classical Western and Eastern instruments. Audience members commented on the artistic skills of the performers.
“I really enjoyed the professionality of the dancers and the music. It’s a perfect combination of Western and Eastern culture. I can hear in the music they use both instruments. So I do enjoy the art, and I also think the animation is perfect, and it fits so well in the whole performance. Everything is really harmonious,” Ms. Melbārde said.
Mr. Martinovs said, “I was surprised that there were quite a few pieces, as I already said, each with its own storyline and narrative lines. I thought that it would be one large unified work, but of course, the acrobatic tricks were also a surprise. Those also exist in our ballet, but here, of course, they are at a completely higher level.”
Ms. Rozena said, “Yes, to stay with the roots, with the foundation, with the meaning. Essentially, it is faith in higher powers, in spirituality, in God. That is what truly speaks to people and what is important, and it is important not to lose that.”
