NEW YORK CITY—Shen Yun Performing Arts brought 5,000 years to life on stage at Lincoln Center, stirring audiences new and returning alike during its opening night performance on March 26. The world-renowned classical Chinese dance company opened its two-and-a-half week run in New York City to a full house.
"Oh, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful ... this show, to me, gives positive energy," said Ms. Tammela, model and entrepreneur.
"It really inspired me," she added, "to follow your dreams and to learn, and be inspired and move forward."
Also in the audience was Steve Pesner, a lawyer, who has made a point to see Shen Yun every year for the past seven seasons or so.
"It's always excellent," said Mr. Pesner, a trustee of several major classical ballet organizations. "Their movement is almost unbelievable. The costumes are nice, even though I'm not a costume fan. And the variety is very, very interesting. I think all dance fans should come and see it."
"I think the love of their country and its history is something that should be spread out," Mr. Pesner said.
Shen Yun also attracted those who wanted to learn more about the authentic traditional Chinese culture.
Pierre Brouwers, a documentary filmmaker, had traveled to China for a film a few years ago, and brought his son to see Shen Yun to better understand the traditional Chinese culture and the current communist regime that has sought to destroy it.
"Very educational," said Mr. Brouwers, who said he was born in 1949 and remembered Mao Zedong and the rise of communism. "It's very interesting to see the story of the tradition, the history of China."
This culture was new for Hank Tucker and Maria LeMaire, who said they learned about the traditional Chinese culture as well as the communist regime's attempt to destroy it through Shen Yun.
"The storyline is really great. Learning something about an art form that they try to shut it down, and they bring it here and do it, so I think it's great," said Mr. Tucker, who owns a medical device business. He said that after seeing the performance, he had " much better idea, much, much better idea" of the Chinese culture.
Ms. LeMaire was seeing Shen Yun for a second time, and introducing it to Mr. Tucker. She said the stories were beautiful and moving, and made an impression.
"I like the way they're spreading the message by doing it this way. It's very subtle, but I think it makes a big impact. And it's visual, so we kind of remember it all," she said. "The show itself is breathtaking. They're beautiful. The costumes are beautiful. And you can see the dedication in all of them. They're committed."
Ms. LeMaire added that the artists were brave for their commitment, not just to art, but to their art and mission in the face of continued oppression from the Chinese communist regime.
"I'm really moved, I can feel that China's cultural heritage, its 5,000-year legacy, was actually passed down," said Liu Jianhuang, who emigrated to the United States from China two years ago.
"It also lets us, people who came from China, really understand how the Chinese communist regime has persecuted people of faith," Mr. Liu said. "In China, so many people have suffered all sorts of persecution, and with revolutions like the Cultural Revolution the traditional culture, faith, and kindness were nearly destroyed."
"This [Shen Yun] gives us Chinese people hope," he said.
