Shen Yun: ‘This Culture Is so Close to Us,’ Teacher Says
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MÜLHEIM AN DER RUHR, Germany—Jürgen Woldt, a health researcher, and his wife Renate Suchy, a teacher, enjoyed Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Mülheim an der Ruhr Theater on Feb. 16. Mr. Woldt said, “I care about the cause of health, that is liveliness and the joy of life,” which he saw as part of the traditional Chinese culture in the performance.
Based in New York, Shen Yun Performing Arts is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company. To the delight of its audiences worldwide, the company can be expected to present a brand-new set of programs every season.
Along with 5,000 years of history, Mr. Woldt was pleasantly surprised to find that “current topics were also there, which were communicated, in a very unique way, and that appealed to me, how it was put together, and how really also very courageously things were brought onto the stage,” and he was touched.
Ms. Suchy was surprised when she learned what Shen Yun means—“the beauty of divine beings dancing.”
“It has a very beautiful meaning, and that’s exactly what was conveyed,” she said. “The beauty was transported [throughout] God’s creation.”
Ms. Suchy got the message of the divine origin of humankind and “a recalling and encouragement of the divine’s creative power. And I liked that very, very much.”
It touched me and I found it entertaining but also awakening.
— Renate Suchy
The spiritual quality of the performance resonated with Ms. Suchy. “It touched me and I found it entertaining but also awakening. ... This culture is so close to us. This is actually our culture, all of our culture.”
Shen Yun Was Best Birthday Gift Ever
Jan and Klarita Nestler were captivated by Shen Yun’s performance, Mr. Nestler works for German Pension Insurance, and Mrs. Klarita, is employed by the University of Witten/Herdecke.
“I was very taken with it,” Mr. Nestler said.
Mr. Nestler said was interested to learn about traditional Chinese history, “because those of us who are growing up now really only know China as a communist regime, I'll just call it that, where not very many freedoms obviously prevail.”
He found the origin story of Chinese civilization interesting: “how the traditional Chinese religion sees it, and what has to happen to get out of the situation we are in right now, from this worldview. A renewal must take place, a return to tradition, to values and to people. Compassion, for example, was also a slogan on the banner. And well, we share that. We Christians share that with many other religions as well, and I think that’s very beautiful.”
Mrs. Nestler found the performance “beautiful, heart touching. I was impressed. I was enthralled. The beauty, the beauty of the history, the beauty of the people, the beauty of the colors, the tradition, the movements, all that such a people has to offer. It was just fantastic.”
The performance was a birthday gift from her husband. “It turned out perfectly: the best I could get. I recommend it to others. I’ve been following it with anticipation for two months, and today I say I’m grateful I got to experience it.”
She found that the show has a lot to offer in terms of spirituality. “That is a world where one can also take with them the sense of security, forgiveness, and everything else.”
Engineer Inspired by the Message of Honoring Parents
Werner and Martina Clemens were thrilled with so much of Shen Yun’s performance. Mr. Clemens is a chemical engineer, and also designs websites for companies.
He was impressed with the artistry and message of Shen Yun. “I think that it is also a real inner need to [find] the good in people and [Shen Yun] tries to bring that more to the fore.”
“Whether in China or anywhere else in the world, it’s always about the same thing. It’s about family, it’s about health, and what you can give to people.
“So I think it’s the same everywhere. One honors parents and one consciously deals decently with one’s fellow man,” he said.