Matt Howell, a former conductor and tenor, described the performance as “fantastic.”
“They were together. They were tight. It was musical,” he said.
“Hearing an orchestra that brings Western instruments and music in with the traditional Chinese instruments was just beautiful,” Mr. Howell added.
“They were all so modest. You didn’t notice their bodies. You noticed the beautiful design of their costumes and how they swirled and they danced,” Mr. Whetten said.
Mary Howell, a choreographer, said, “I loved how all of them seemed to really believe what they were trying to convey, and I love the feeling that was in the room.”
“We need this message in our world today,” Mrs. Howell added. “I would love to see this performance more than just once a year—that’s not enough for me. It was so amazing.”
Carie Smith, founder and director at Arm In Arm Outreach, felt like she was learning about China.
“I’m capturing a sense of their culture, their history, their passion, their styling. I’m really loving it,” Mrs. Smith said.
Shen Yun is based in New York, and its mission is to revive 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, and its divinely-inspired traditional culture.
“It’s very nice to see the artists preserving that art and communicating that, and keeping it alive for the next generations to experience,” said Kowshik Bhat, founder and CEO of Bhat Consulting.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Howell resonated with Shen Yun's depiction of the hope that faith offers. “A redeemer, or someone, at the end to bring peace was so reassuring,” Mrs. Howell said.
“I forget that sometimes in this world that it will be okay and that there’s a higher power,” she added.
Her husband was touched by Shen Yun's depiction of “the variety of situations that you can find yourself in where you can look to divinity and have hope.”
Mrs. Howell said Shen Yun was “really life-changing.”
“I know that sounds dramatic, but it really was,” she said.
