NASHVILLE, Tenn.—During Shen Yun’s Feb. 23 performance, newspaper executive James Artis sat in the orchestra section of the Tennessee Performing Arts Center with a large group composed of adult ladies, as well as very young ladies.

The young ones appeared to be in their early teens. Every year The Tennessee Tribune treats a group of young students to Shen Yun.

“Every year we bring the students, just to try and expand their knowledge as far as other cultures are concerned. We brought about ten this year,” said Mr. Artis, with a warm smile.

The founder and publisher of the newspaper started the tradition, one of her many good deeds. Rosetta Miller-Perry started the newspaper more than 20 years ago. It is the top Black newspaper in Tennessee.

According to Mr. Artis, Mrs. Miller-Perry arranges for the students to attend. “It’s one of her organizations. She has many organizations,” he said.

The students appeared rapt during the performance.

The audience as a whole was intensely responsive, shouting “Bravo!” after tenor Guan Guimin sang “The Great Return.” And when the curtain rose on Lotus Fairies after intermission, audience members gasped and murmured. According to the program, “This piece begins amidst a celestial cloudscape, where fairies dance with silken fans that resemble flower petals.”

Shen Yun’s “hope is that you will leave the theatre today feeling uplifted and renewed,” reads the program book.

Afterwards, the students displayed high spirits. With sparkling eyes they clustered around two tall Shen Yun display banners in the lobby, laughing and chatting vivaciously.

Grammy award-winning gospel star and 2014 Trumpet Awards honoree Dr. Bobby Jones genially posed for picture after picture with the group, in front of the Shen Yun banners.

Mr. Artis also tirelessly took pictures, destined to be published in the Tennessee Tribune.

Mr. Artis said he would be back in 2015.

New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has four touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit Shen Yun Performing Arts.

The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time. We have proudly covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.