MINNEAPOLIS—Bank Vice President John Young attended Shen Yun’s evening performance at the Orpheum Theatre on May 4. He was accompanied by his daughter, Madeline Moon, and granddaughter Juliette.
Watching the show for the first time, Mr. Young found the experience “absolutely exquisite.”
“It’s exquisite. Phenomenal. I’m amazed at how they move together in unison perfectly. It’s just beautiful,” he expressed.
Since its establishment in 2006, Shen Yun has grown to include eight equally sized companies that tour the world simultaneously to showcase the beauty of pre-communist China.
“I was moved when [the police] took [the girl’s] heart. That was a moment where I teared up. It does move the soul, absolutely. I’ve been in joy and also in sadness. [Shen Yun] did a great job,” he said.
As a spiritual person, Mr. Young feels a strong connection to the divine-inspired themes of traditional Chinese culture. He appreciated Shen Yun’s opening piece depicting celestial beings descending from the heavens to bring culture to humanity.
“In the very beginning, [the performance] talked about how we were divine and then came [to the earth.] I believe that God isn’t far away but in us. We are very close to the divine incarnate. It’s in all of us,” he said.
Ms. Moon, too, enjoyed the performance.
Since her husband’s family was from Korea, she and her daughter Juliette can relate to much of the culture showcased in the show. “It felt very comfortable. It feels like home, watching it live,” she said.
“It’s expressed in a way that is beautiful and can touch the hearts of the audience and the people watching,” she stated.
“The struggles that you see the Chinese people have throughout history—the triumphs and the valleys and the sorrows—are quite beautifully expressed not only through movement but through storytelling and music all combined.”