“It was very much a mesh of past and present, and hopefully future, that we will see more of that,” said Erin. The Pratts appreciated the fact that New York-based Shen Yun is reviving a 5,000-year civilization rich in culture, which was once almost lost in China 80 years ago.

“You’ve got three generations here, so it was really fun to watch, and I think we all got something different out of it,” said Erin.

“I think it was important that we’re able to see something that they’re not able to see in their home country,” she said. “And it’s impressive ... that we are able to express it [in the West], and enjoy the visual and cultural aspect of the show that the natural-born Chinese people are not able to enjoy right now.”

“So we’re fortunate, we’re very blessed to be able to see that, and I’m glad that my grandson did enjoy it,” Saundra said. “He was sitting on the edge of his seat most of the time. He hardly blinked.”

Ayden, who is currently interested in studying languages, and who has done dance, orchestra, band, and choir, was impressed with the vast scale of Shen Yun’s production.

“It was well-timed,” Ayden said, impressed with how the dancers might appear on stage one moment and flying through the air on-screen the next. “It was really out there.”

“That was something I learned too,” Erin chimed in.

With a designer’s eye, Erin took in the fascinating color combinations, stage design, and choreography.

“It was beautiful, it was graceful, very moving,” she said. “I really enjoyed the costumes and the colors, and the different formations of the dance.”

For Erin, these beautiful facets came together to tell an important story of China’s lost spirituality.

“I think [it was a message] of freedom of expression really, I mean being able to express themselves through motion and storytelling through dance, expressing their culture, freedom to express their religion,” she said. “That was really interesting.”

The Pratts enjoyed seeing glimpses of ancient China’s many dynasties over 5,000 years, and various ethnic dances and folk dances from China’s many regions.

It made Saundra think how the culture must have developed over time, and what was collected from region to region in terms of culture.

It is a shame Shen Yun cannot perform in China, she said, “but it’s a joy for us, and we will treasure it for them, and hopefully one day they will be able to appreciate that themselves. It was a blessing for us.”