HUNTSVILLE, Ala.—Watching Shen Yun Performing Arts was an enlightening experience for Scottsboro, Alabama attorney Melanie Bradford. She and her husband, Michael Bradford, a manager, saw Shen Yun for the first time at the Von Braun Center Concert Hall on Jan. 26.

Mrs. Bradford owns her own law firm and helps families with estate planning, Social Security issues, and elder law. 

After seeing Shen Yun, she said, “I think it was fantastic. It’s a very good show, very culturally enlightening.” 

That is what the artists hope for. According to the Shen Yun website, beyond all the sophisticated dance technique and stunning scenes in Shen Yun, “digging deeper, one discovers a sea of traditional Chinese culture. Mortals and divine beings merge on stage as one. Principles such as benevolence and justice, propriety and wisdom, respect for the heavens, and divine retribution, all come to life, washing over the audience. Originating from Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, these ideals are the essence of traditional Chinese culture.”

Shen Yun’s mission is to revive China’s 5,000-year old civilization, nearly lost during 60 years of communist rule.

Mr. and Mrs. Bradford enjoyed the lighter side of Shen Yun as well. She said she found, “a lot of humor in it—more than I expected.” From the shape shifting, villainous toad in The Monkey King Defeats the Evil Toad, to the ‘insane monk’ who sweeps a villain out of his temple, there are many funny stories in Shen Yun.

Mrs. Bradford also said she saw how Chinese culture has influenced the world. She said, “I think we can see where we got gymnastics,” and many dance forms.

Most of all, she said she thinks the Shen Yun artists “need to continue what they are doing, their hard work. Their hard work definitely shows,” she said, with a big smile.

New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has four touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org

The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time. We have proudly covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.