MESA, Ariz.—Shen Yun Performing Arts completed an acclaimed run at the Mesa Arts Center’s Ikeda Theater Feb. 11–Feb. 17 to an enthusiastic audience at every performance.
Realtor Holly Reycraft resonated with the lyrics performed by New York-based Shen Yun’s impressive bel canto soprano.
“Her voice made you feel like you were in heaven because it sounds like an angel, or what you would picture angels to sing like; with that level of soprano, those lungs, and the message behind it, and the landscape. Really, really beautiful,” Ms. Reycraft said.
Michelle Lynn, a singer with three national Billboard and Cashbox hits, said, “The singer was beautiful, very emotional. I love the words and what they stand for. It’s very special to my faith.”
Shen Yun is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance company. Through music and dance, it seeks to revive 5,000 years of Chinese civilization through music and dance, and share with audiences “China before communism.” Shen Yun is banned in modern-day communist China.
“Freedom is better. Culture is better. It’s just a better way to treat each other,” David Bond, a civil engineer, said of Shen Yun’s theme.
Shen Yun’s Bravery
“I think [Shen Yun] is a very brave effort,” dentist Mr. Andrew Ballard said. “I’m sure that they received tremendous pressure from the Chinese government.”
The CCP is engaged in ongoing persecution of religious Chinese people, and courageous people who hold onto faith and tradition despite oppression.
Business owner Amy Warren spoke of Shen Yun’s story-based dance that told of these true events in modern-day China. The dance moved her deeply.
The beauty and spiritual quality of the production affected many. Business owner Serena Fowler said, “I think it’s heaven. It’s heaven, yes.”
“It’s beautiful,” Ms. Fowler said. “I love knowing about other people’s ideas and thoughts ... and it’s kind of similar to ours and beautiful, very beautiful.”
“Oh my, it feels like heaven’s brought to earth, it’s incredible,” entrepreneur Penelope Popken said. “I’m almost crying watching because the music is so heavenly. The dancers are dancing like angels. It’s so beautiful it makes you want to cry because the tradition that’s in this is not in the world today.”
Retired business professor Ned Miner said Shen Yun spiked his interest in traditional Chinese culture.
Beautiful Message
Many in the Mesa audience connected with Shen Yun’s spiritual message of peace, kindness, and tolerance.Sigrid Tasies, an embodiment coach, firmly believes that the performance will have a positive impact not only on the audience but on the world as a whole. She loves that Shen Yun is reviving China’s spiritual heritage and upholding traditional moral values.
“I’m just so happy that more people get to see what’s actually happening and understand, because everybody should be allowed to just be free. Also, to meditate and pray and connect with God in their own way. [That should be] a basic human right,” she said.
“The message of the Creator is just a touching one. It’s just beautiful, and it just makes me happy,” she said. “The message [from the performance] was kindness. For me, the message was tolerance and you can find beauty in everybody. You’ve just got to be quiet long enough to recognize it and notice it.”
To those who have not watched Shen Yun, Ms. Lynn wants to tell them, “It is a must-see. You must come and see it. You must experience it. Because it is a spiritual experience. More mind, body, and soul.”
There are still opportunities to see Shen Yun in the Mesa area. You can see Shen Yun in Phoenix, Arizona; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Escondido and San Diego, California, in March and April.
