FRANKFURT—Brilliant colors, moving stories, touching compositions—Shen Yun Performing Arts brings to life the 5,000-year-old Chinese, divinely inspired culture, which was largely destroyed or forgotten under decades of communist rule. Former Hessian Finance Minister Michael Boddenberg, like many other viewers before him, said he admires the courage of the artists, because behind their cause lies an appeal for a free China.
Michael Boddenberg, former Hessian Finance Minister and member of the State Parliament in the German state of Hesse since 1999, attended the performance on Feb. 8.
“A great show, great choreography, incredibly dynamic and enthusiastic and committed dancers,” he said. “Great orchestra, great symbiosis between Western and Chinese music and tradition and modernity. I am very enthusiastic.”
The Frankfurt native added: “We are, of course, an international city here and we are happy to welcome international artists. But today was a unique experience. I travel a lot, including in the cultural world. Today was very special.”
Mr. Boddenberg said Shen Yun was “very courageous in addressing this and spreading this message throughout the world.”
“Tradition and modernity do not always go together when modernity, that is, the present day, a communist dictatorship, prohibits many things,” he added.
“I’m glad that I live in a free country,” he said. “But I also look with concern at some countries in the world where people are oppressed because of their beliefs, because of their origins, because of the freedom they want to achieve. So there are still many messages to be conveyed and that is why the work they [Shen Yun] are doing here is great.”
Some of the dance pieces deal are set in modern-day China, based on true events. They depict characters holding onto faith and tradition despite oppression, touching on an ongoing religious persecution.
The communist regime persecutes people who practice Falun Gong, the traditional spiritual discipline based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance.
Mr. Boddenberg believes that the Shen Yun artists can achieve a lot.
“I think they will succeed in convincing many people not only of their great artistic performance but also of their message,” he said.
He addressed the ensemble directly: “I just want to say thank you. I have a vague idea of how much work went into it, how much effort and sweat, and how much personal commitment. And sometimes, as they say in Germany, you have to overcome your inner demons, because the dancers have to practice day and night to be able to do all of this physically. So I have great respect for this achievement!”
His wish for the new year is “that the world may become a little more peaceful.”
Immersed in Ancient China
Peter Gaj, a businessman in research, was also impressed by the journey to ancient China presented by Shen Yun. He traveled to the Jahrhunderthalle with his mother and six other relatives and friends. After the performance, he was beaming.“I had a wonderful evening with family and friends,” he said. He felt “immersed” in the dance stories.
“For two hours you are a little bit in China,” he said, adding that he was immersed in “another world” in which worries and stress fade away.
For the businessman, who did not see a single empty seat in the sold-out theater that day, one thing is certain: he will come back next year–“if we can still get tickets.”
