COLUMBIA, S.C.—Shen Yun Performing Arts is taking the East Coast by storm with standing ovations and packed venues. Mary and Ron Safko were lucky enough to take in this once-in-a-lifetime experience, on Saturday, March 15, at Koger Center for the Arts.

Both Mary and Ron are well-established in their respective fields; Mr. Safko is a retired architect, and Mrs. Safko a writer.

The first thing that caught Mr. Safko’s eye was the interaction between the dancers and the animated backdrops. He said, “I love the coordination of the big screen and the dancers; the dancers come in and out of the big screen. It’s really super.”

According to the Shen Yun website, “These digital backdrop designs complement and synchronize all aspects of the performance: the characters, color of the costumes, specific dance movements, props, lighting, the story being told, particular notes played by the orchestra, and special audio effects.”

Feeling well immersed in the performance, Mr. and Mrs. Safko enjoyed the dancers. Referring to the scene, When Play Turns to Panic, Mr. Safko said, “Some scenes were funny. The dancers express themselves well. There was serious trouble when the hornets come loose.”

Mrs. Safko agreed, saying “I liked the humor. I especially liked the boys that got into the hornet’s nest. That was really enjoyable.”

Bringing out a well-rounded performance, Shen Yun also includes dances set in China today. This year, the dance titled The Steadfast Lotus touched on the story of a mother and daughter who were persecuted for their belief in the spiritual practice, Falun Dafa. Falun Dafa (or Falun Gong) is an ancient Chinese spiritual practice based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance.

Mr. Safko said, “I enjoyed The Steadfast Lotus. It’s another Chinese hero like Mulan. I really enjoyed that part of it, and then the dancing is just superb. It’s really super, really special.”

Mrs. Safko also appreciated hearing about the truth of the situation in China today and the stark contrast to China’s past, which embraced the benefits of spiritual practices. She said, “I didn’t realize what used to be and what is now, so I think that was something that increased my awareness.

“I think that we all need to be entertained, but we also need to be educated. And I think everyone can learn a lot from seeing this,” she said.

Reporting by NTD Television and Miles Segni

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