DALLAS—Shen Yun Performing Arts completed a successful run at Music Hall at Fair Park on Jan. 24 through 26 to an enthusiastic audience. Many were touched by the presentation, especially Shen Yun’s message of freedom.
Crystal Gomez, a director in the healthcare industry, loved the stories interpreted through dance. “The storytelling is really top tier. I think there’s a clear message and it’s easy to relate to, even from the difference in cultures,” she said.
Many in the audience were touched by the stories brought to life on stage by New York-based Shen Yun.
Business owner Chet Dowden was moved to tears. “It’s just the most moving thing. I’ve never seen anything more beautiful,” he said.
“I love learning about the divinity aspect of it and the stories that brought us to this point,” Mr. Dowden added.
“That was lovely. I’m almost going to cry. I think it has a lot of expression and emotion,” said Brittany Padilla, a musician.
Expressing Freedom
Shen Yun Performing Arts is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance company. Through music and dance, Shen Yun seeks to revive 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture, which has been almost destroyed under the communist regime.By bringing to the world “China before communism,” Shen Yun celebrates China’s age-old traditions and its rich spiritual heritage from the ancient teachings of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism on stage.
Brian Davis, a company VP, who attended with his wife Belinda Martin, stated that “it has been very educational to see the culture and religious beliefs, and how steadfast everyone is to their roots and their faith.”
Reflecting on Shen Yun artists’ mission to bring back traditional culture and raise awareness for ongoing human rights issues in modern-day China, company VP Gary Peak said he “respects the struggle [the artists] have to go through.”
Shen Yun’s artists practice Falun Dafa, a self-cultivation and meditation system centered on the three principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance, which is a source of inspiration for the performances. Falun Dafa, like most faiths in China, has faced brutal persecution by the communist regime.
Pat Reeder, a writer, has seen Shen Yun for several seasons. “We love everything about it—the music, the dancing, the costumes, the colors, the screens, the special effects. It’s amazing! It all just comes together,” he said.
Mr. Reeder was also aware of what’s going on in China today. “I like the fact that it has a message of protesting what’s happening in China now: the crackdown on individual freedom, religious freedom.
“That’s something very important to us. We write about it a lot in our work, and that’s why I’m happy that we come here and support things. I buy things from the concession stand. We support in any way we can,” he said.
Texas State Sen. Angela Paxton said she felt great power coming from the performance. She said she wants her family to see Shen Yun.
“I felt a tremendous amount of energy [throughout the show.] One of the things I was thinking about is that I’m 61, a mom, and a grandmother. I’m already figuring out how to bring my little grandchildren to see this. I think they would be just transfixed the entire time.”
Ms. Paxton said it’s important for Americans to be aware of the persecution and suppression of Chinese people today by their own rulers.
“I do know this is really happening in China. In the Texas Senate and House, we passed a resolution condemning [China’s forced organ harvest.] We followed up the next session with legislation to prohibit insurance companies from supporting this kind of practice,” she said.
There are still opportunities to see Shen Yun in Texas. You can see Shen Yun in San Antonio, Houston, El Paso, Corpus Christi, and McAllen in February and March.
