TUCSON, Ariz.—Workshop owners Devon Teichmiller and Amber Prince watched Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Linda Ronstadt Music Hall on Feb. 9.
“I just really love the movements,” Mr. Teichmiller said. “I thought it was really beautiful and incredible to watch.”
Some of Shen Yun’s story-based dances depict the Chinese regime’s persecution of followers of faith, and Ms. Prince saw this as a reminder of what is currently happening in other parts of the world.
“It’s eye-opening to know,” she said. “You forget that it’s easier going here, you forget that’s something that goes on in other parts of the world, that you need to understand that you have it—the freedom of being able to speak however you want and have things.”
“The music was magical,” he said. “It felt like a different world when you were listening to it.”
The performance also features Shen Yun’s patented animated backdrop, which is a fan-favorite that delights millions of people every year. This year, Ms. Prince joined the ranks of the many audience members who were surprised by the way performers had the ability to move seamlessly between the stage and backdrop.
“It was very interesting how they did that,” she said. “I’ve never seen that before.”
She said she also appreciated being able to learn about Chinese culture through the universal language of dance: “Seeing the culture through dance, you don’t have to be able to speak the language.”
“It was very spiritual and lovely,” he said. “[It] opens your eyes and takes you to a whole different world I didn’t know existed. I’ve never been familiar with the kind of culture and it was very worth seeing and eye-opening.”
