New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance company. Through the universal language of music and dance, Shen Yun presents story-based dances depicting heavenly realms, ancient legends, and modern heroic tales spanning 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture.
Mr. Schuler attended a Shen Yun performance in 2010 and was impressed by the company’s patented method using a 3D animated backdrop that allows seamless interaction between the background projection and the performers on stage.
“It’s as beautiful today as it was then. I’m always awed by the beauty of it,” he said.
Freedom to Believe
Since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006, its mission has been to revive the traditional culture of China through music and dance and to share it with the world. The age-old culture has been on the brink of extinction since the Chinese communist regime seized power in 1949. Shen Yun says its performance this year demonstrates “China before communism.”“[They] really do it in a very loving way. Even some of the scenes that are a little bit tougher, [they] still do it in a very tasteful way. … But the message is clear: that is, religious freedom, civil liberties, which I stand for 100 percent.”
Reflecting on the human rights atrocities that are being exposed through the beauty of the performance, Mr. Schuler said that these crimes must be denounced.
“The Chinese government has a lot to answer for with the organ harvesting that’s taking place. I think it’s just a shameful crime against humanity that’s taking place. I think all of us in the West should be disgusted by that and should denounce that kind of behavior,” he said.
‘It Is Very Uplifting’
China was once known as “The Land of the Divine” and Shen Yun presents this culture by drawing upon the Middle Kingdom’s Buddhist and Daoist philosophies. As such, the performance often includes spiritually uplifting messages, according to the company’s website.“Coming from a very spiritual background, … I appreciate the spirituality,” said Mr. Schuler, “I like how [Shen Yun] puts it on the forefront and [their] message is very clear, very beautiful. It’s a very good message that we need spirituality in our lives.”
“We have so many mental health problems in our cities, in our communities, and it’s with spirituality that we can help to get out of those problems. Your government can’t help you with mental health issues—the best way to deal with that is through spiritual means. And the message today was absolutely beautiful.”“I’m a people-watcher,” Mr. Schuler added. “The audience was enthralled, they were excited, and they were clapping throughout. I think people really appreciated it.
“There was a gentleman sitting next to me. He’s never been to one of these before. I said to him, ‘Wait till you see this show.’ Afterward, he said, ‘You were so right. It is so beautiful.’ And yes, it is very uplifting.”
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