SAN JOSE, Calif.—John Hagenbach and his loved ones enjoyed Shen Yun Performing Arts while it was in San Jose, California. It was his second time watching the show.
“It’s just so beautiful, really. It’s heavenly,” said Mr. Hagenbach, owner of Hagenbach Construction.
He said the men were beautiful dancers with strength.
“But the women almost seem like angels. They’re just coming down from heaven. I really like the big screen that they have, where I don’t know how they do that, but it almost looks like they’re jumping into another world,” Mr. Hagenbach said.
Thad Newton, technical training director at Proofpoint, saw the performance with his daughter.
“I would encourage anybody to come see it. It’s a beautiful show, really well done. The talent of the dancers is amazing, and the whole integration of the music with the orchestra, the digital effects, all of it together is really unique. It’s not something I’ve seen before,” Mr. Newton said.
Shen Yun’s mission is to bring back traditional Chinese culture. The New York-based dance company also portrays the ongoing persecution of belief happening in China.
Janet Corrigan, an attorney in the San Francisco Bay Area, said she was “really glad to see that the word is getting out.”
“I think more people need to know about what communism has done to China and to the Chinese people. When I first heard about Shen Yun, I honestly wasn’t ready to attend it because I thought it was pro-communism, but when I found out that it was actually anti-communism and trying to save the Chinese people, that’s when I got very interested in it,” Ms. Corrigan said.
Her husband, John Corrigan, chief of staff at a Silicon Valley company, said: “I’m very impressed with the ability of the performers, the quality of the music but also the message is really important to get out there. There were some really powerful scenes.”
Patrons were touched by the values depicted in Shen Yun.
“Your concentration on the golden ages is irresistible,” said Dr. Robert Weinmann, a neurologist.
Dr. Weinmann’s son, Paul Robbins, said “I am so honored and touched by this.”
“I have the utmost respect for everybody who’s involved in promoting this because humanity needs this so much right now,” the musician said.
Stephanie Farias, former principal at the San Jose Unified School District, said the performance is beneficial for students and the public.
“I think the message here of tolerance is timely, right? And doesn’t just apply to China but applies across the entire world with everything going on,” Ms. Farias said.
David Lam, NTD News, California
