SÃO PAULO, Brazil—New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has seen rapid growth since its inception in 2006; today it has eight equal-sized tour groups that travel the world simultaneously, poised to present nearly 100 shows each this 2023 season. But even though the company is making stops in more than 108 cities around the world this season, the demand for performances grows every year as well.
As such, João Alberto Lisot and Karen Kirchhoff, both business owners, traveled about 1,000 miles from the capital of Brazil to catch Shen Yun’s opening performance in São Paolo at the Teatro Bradesco on March 17.
Shen Yun is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance company, and aims to show the 5,000 years of divinely inspired traditional Chinese culture.
“Fantastic. We came from Brasilia, because we believe in that message!” said Mr. Lisot, who said he had read many good things about the performance prior to seeing it.
“It touched me a lot,” Ms. Kirchhoff said.
Mr. Lisot agreed, saying that many moments in the performance had moved him.
“There are many parts in the performance, but that part, the divine message, is very similar to what we believe,” he said. “It’s a message that brings hope, brings joy that we have other paths to follow, so that’s what we believe.”
“We share these ideas,” he said.
Ms. Kirchhoff was saddened that the communist regime of China had nearly destroyed this culture and art, and was appreciative of Shen Yun’s efforts to restore it.
“The enchantment of music, dance, performances, of artists, it is wonderful art,” she said.
Reporting by Mary Mann.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.