Dr. Tania Nordli, a family physician, shared her thoughts on the performance, describing it as "full of beauty and hope." She expressed admiration for how the show focused on the divine and virtues, even in the face of oppression. "It's very saddening to see what happens under communism ... We all want justice for the world’s peoples, but it does not come through communism. And here we see people working kindly with hope," she said.
Jeremy Wiebe, a civil servant, also commented on the performance, calling it "graceful" and praising how it embodied the principles of truth, beauty, and goodness. He reflected on the beauty of traditional culture and how communism attempts to level and destroy what is beautiful, stating, "The beauty of the traditional culture juxtaposed with the leveling of communism ... It destroys what is beautiful and undermines what is true."
The performance’s portrayal of Falun Gong practitioners remaining steadfast in their faith despite persecution was particularly moving for many in the audience. Dr. Nordli appreciated the way the show presented resilience and hope in the face of oppression. "Stories are wonderful at enlightening our hearts and teach us in ways that mere words cannot," she said.
Thornton Persweld Fuit, Nordli’s son, also reflected on the performance’s depiction of China’s present-day struggles, noting, "I like how they show China present day, on how that country is being run, and how we need to help them out during that."
Gabriella Grace Wiebe, daughter of a provincial government education department manager, mentioned how the performance was equally engaging for children, sharing that she liked how it captured the excitement of all ages. "I like how it’s not just some adult performance that only adults can understand. I like how kids can go and feel the excitement as much as the adults can," she said.
The audience expressed deep gratitude to Shen Yun’s artists, acknowledging the immense effort that went into creating such a performance. "Thank you for making such a diverse array of stories, dances, and live music to inspire us," Nordli said. Jeremy Wiebe added, "To all the performers well done, and thank you for all your dedication in honing your craft."
