With great anticipation, the beautiful desert capital of Arizona will welcome Shen Yun Performing Arts to Symphony Hall from March 6 through 9.
To great acclaim, Shen Yun has graced the stages of cities around the world and Phoenix will once again join them in celebrating the performers.
Councilmember of Prescott, Arizona, Ted Gambogi, had traveled to China when he worked for Caterpillar, the manufacturer of large construction equipment.
“I’ve seen shows similar to this [in China], but this was far more elegant, far more sophisticated,” he said. “This is way beyond those performances!”
Shen Yun’s spiritual and cultural values made an impression on Chief Financial Officer Brian Hesch.
When I was “in China, I asked about religion and culture there. The response was, ‘Our culture is money.’ They didn’t say that there was a religion. So, to learn that [spirituality] is actually a part of traditional culture dating back was kind of surprising actually,” Mr. Hesch said.
Referring to the three principles introduced in the performance—truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance—business owner Joseph Perrotti said he resonated deeply with these values.
“The big takeaway for me is that [the show] is all about loving and serving each other. Different cultures can show compassion and get along with each other,” he said.
Divine Beauty
Actress Julie Riederer said she learned something about the heritage of China, “It’s just very, very beautifully done.”Ms. Riederer noted Shen Yun’s mission of reviving China’s semi-divine culture of 5,000 years that has been suppressed by the communist regime today.
Chris Allen, a nurse, said, “I thought it seemed very spiritual, and that’s what came out in their emotions. I think that the spirituality was beautiful, and I also felt wisdom from it, you know, the stories that were told, and they were wise.”
The performance, especially the dancers, impressed Steve Zabka, a retired advertising agency chief operating officer. “It’s fascinating. I think the dancing is unbelievable. And the flexibility of the dancers is phenomenal. It’s beautiful and a lot of fun to see,” he said.
Shen Yun’s innovative 3D backdrop projection impressed Debi L. Hadley, an artist who crafts backgrounds for plays and pageants.
“I liked how the timing [of the dance and music] went so well with the background. It was just beautiful. I appreciated the work and creativity that went into that,” she said.
Ms. Hadley also appreciated Shen Yun’s message of freedom and compassion. “I loved the message. We all just want to be free—to have the right to learn, to have knowledge, and to be good,” she said.
This year, as Shen Yun is set to perform in over 200 cities around the world and across five continents, the 2025 touring season is shaping up to be the artists’ busiest yet and a glorious treat for theatergoers.
