KNOXVILLE—Knoxvilles’ Tennessee Theatre played gracious host to Shen Yun Performing Arts on Jan. 7.

“It’s wonderful; the choreography, the colors, the set,” said Monty Sharp, a high school principal on the Shen Yun performance. Mr. Sharp attended the performance with his wife, Amy, an elementary school principal.

“It’s beautiful. The timing is amazing,” she added.

Through music and dance, New York-based Shen Yun seeks to revive China’s divinely inspired culture. Since 2006, audiences around the world have been mesmerized by Shen Yun’s breathtaking dancers, singers, and all-original costumes.

“The way they use the costumes as part of the visually aesthetic appeal,” Ms. Sharp said, “I mean, it’s just beautiful.”

She added that she “didn’t expect to be as emotionally touched” by the performance. “That was beautiful,” she said.

Shen Yun’s dance performances carry different shorelines and themes, and create scenes from heavenly realms to underwater palaces from China’s mythology. Some of the performances also tell the more distressing situations facing China under today’s communist rule.

Under the current regime, traditional arts have been nearly wrought to extinction. “And it’s a very harsh reality,” Ms. Sharp said.

“It’s a shame that this [Shen Yun] is not allowed in China, very much so,” added Mr. Sharp.

The couple felt fortunate they were able to experience the performance. “The overall feeling is just beautiful, breathtaking. It’s just very enjoyable; it’s a beautiful feeling—peaceful, exciting. It’s a great experience; it touches on a lot of emotions,” Ms. Sharp said.

Mr. Sharp especially noted the importance of the freedom of expression. “Tolerance for everything,” he said. “Especially the arts.”

Shen Yun, Ms. Sharp agreed, embodies the value of true freedom—something that cannot be measured. “And I appreciate it very much, and I know that much was given to achieve that freedom.”

Reporting by Teresa You and Michael Fitzgerald

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.