PETERSBURG, Fla.—Entrepreneur and company owner Marcos Silva and Danielle Hummel, an audiologist, was very impressed by the beauty of Shen Yun Performing Arts when they attended the company’s second of five consecutive shows on Jan. 17, at the Duke Energy Center for the Arts.
“It’s been beautiful. The acrobatics are gorgeous and the costumes are wonderful. It’s our first time, so we’re very excited to be here,” Mr. Silva said.
“Everything is perfect. It was a great performance. I love every single presentation. [The performers] are very professional.”
Based in New York, Shen Yun is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company. It was founded by a group of leading Chinese artists who had fled the persecution of the communist party.
Following the 1949 communist takeover, there were various movements aimed at destroying the traditional Chinese religions of Buddhism and Taoism, and traditional Chinese culture was almost lost. Since Shen Yun’s establishment, the New York-based artists have made it their mission to revive China’s 5,000 years of divinely inspired culture.
Referring to the artists’ commitment to bringing back traditional culture, Mr. Silva said it was really nice learning more about China and seeing the different stories. He loved being able to share this knowledge with his son.
Ms. Hummel, too, said the show was beautiful and wonderful. She thought the programs were eye-opening and very “educational for Americans and for our children to see the stories.”
Shen Yun’s performance is comprised of a series of short pieces that take its audience on a ride through the dynasties and across the vast regions of China. Using classical Chinese, folk, and ethnic dances, as well as solo musical performances, Shen Yun tells tales from ancient times to the modern day.
Referring to Shen Yun’s portrayal of China before communism, Mr. Silva said, “It’s amazing. It’s the real-life—the way to be.”
“I wish we can go back there and live the real-life that way. Unfortunately, it’s not, but it’s great to have [Shen Yun] to refresh our brain and see how things were. Amazing.”
The couple also loved Shen Yun’s live orchestra and the singer’s solo performance. They absolutely loved every aspect of the performance.
The performance “was very spiritual. It’s nice, and it makes you feel good. It’s been very pleasant, and we appreciate [Shen Yun] sharing it with us,” Ms. Hummel added.
For its 2025 touring season, Shen Yun’s eight equally-sized companies will be performing in over 200 cities across five continents. Met with wide acclaim since its establishment in 2006, the company can be expected to return each year with a brand-new set of choreography and musical compositions.
Reporting by Teng Dongyu and Jennifer Tseng.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.
