PITTSBURGH, Pa.—“I really enjoyed the power of overcoming—that message of overcoming, the whole situation where you never give up,” said Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey.

“It’s thought-provoking. You use your divine inner spirit to continue to grow, even in the midst of adversity. That came through large and I really appreciated that message,” he said.

“As a matter of fact, it should be celebrated because it’s the burst of civilization and how it started. So, when we talk about that divine being, when we talk about the history, we talk about the culture.”

Gainey could see that the performers were inspired by their practice.

“I’ve seen that and more,” he said. “I’ve seen grace. I’ve seen elegance. I’ve seen practice. I’ve seen discipline. I’ve seen the ability to work as a team. I’ve seen so much. I’ve seen the whole spirit of motivation—the spirit of meditation—just allowing them to be able to demonstrate on a live stage exactly how they practice their [beliefs].”

“It was beautiful, it was beautiful in many ways,” he said.

People who came to see Shen Yun would be inspired, he said. “And I’m always about how do we inspire people because I believe when you inspire people you bring the best out of them.”

After the curtain call, the mayor presented the performers with a proclamation, thanking Shen Yun for blessing the city and for the wonderful performance.