IDAHO FALLS, Idaho—When architect and company owner Richard Dodge and his wife, Misty, brought their children to Shen Yun’s evening performance at the Frontier Center for the Performing Arts on March 6, they didn’t quite know what to expect.
“I loved everything—from the story to the colors to the presentation. It was incredible dancing and an incredible story that just really sunk pretty deep. You feel that it was more than a visual experience—it was more of an emotional and physical experience as well,” he said.
“I think there’s so much culture and so much history in China that all of us would love to experience, that we really can’t because of the current government issue. It’s really sad to me. It’s a place that I would love to go and spend a year just touring around. Unfortunately, it’s really difficult because of the way it is structured now.”
“The best and most incredible thing that we can do is to spread that hope and kindness and show others that there really is someone bigger out there that watches out for us. [truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance,] I love these three words. There is such a human truth that’s not specific to any religion. These are human and eternal truths—that’s the most powerful thing that you can share with others.”He also relates to the artists’ determination to stand up and speak out against human rights issues in present-day China.
“I think all of us, in some way, are suppressed inside at times. It’s really hard for us to let our real selves out. Sometimes because of outside influence, sometimes because of inside hesitations that prevent us from being able to show who we really are,” Mr. Dodge explained.
After seeing the performance, he shared, “My heart leaves lighter than when it came. It feels lighter and brighter. You just feel like you float out because it was just an incredible experience.”
He will be bringing home with him, “a hope and a deeper appreciation for the incredible history that is the true and real Chinese people.”
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