ORANGE PARK, Fla.—On Jan. 29, Beldon Wolson, a chief creative officer, arrived with his wife at the Thrasher-Horne Center at St. Johns River State College, eager for Shen Yun Performing Arts’ evening performance. He had kept the details of the program a surprise for his wife.
The couple couldn’t have been more thrilled with the experience. Having lived across the country and attended numerous performances, Mr. Wolson noted that Shen Yun offered “so much more depth” than anything he had seen before.
“The little bit that I knew about what we were going to see has been far surpassed. So, it’s been very special and I’m very excited to see the rest of the show,” he said during intermission.
As a graphic designer, Mr. Wolson doubly appreciated Shen Yun’s colorful 3D backdrop that collaborated seamlessly with the performers on stage to enhance storytelling.
“I think the art is wonderful. I like the technology that [Shen Yun] have come up with. It’s very innovative to be able to have performers come in and out of the scene—it’s been wonderful,” he stated.
As one of the oldest civilizations in the world, China’s 5,000 years of history is filled with breathtaking legends and rich traditions. Yet, within just a few decades of the Chinese communists’ rise to power, this magnificent culture was almost completely destroyed.
The spread of atheism quickly eradicated Chinese people’s belief in the divine. The cherished virtues and values learned from the teachings of Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism disappeared overnight.
Today, the New York-based Shen Yun is working to revive this lost civilization and bring back to the world through dance and music, the beauty of pre-communist China.
Mr. Wolson loved that he was experiencing China’s traditional culture in its most authentic form.
“It’s very interesting to be able to come and see culture from over 5,000 years and understand a little bit more about Chinese culture that is not involved with communism. … [It’s] something that is very unique,” he said.
“So, I very much enjoy being able to see things that I’ve never seen before and enjoy seeing the athleticism of all the dancers. It’s pretty incredible. I feel very honored.”
Shen Yun’s performance is made up of a series of short pieces that take the audience on a journey through China’s dynasties and diverse regions. Through classical Chinese, folk, and ethnic dances, alongside solo musical performances, Shen Yun brings to life stories that span from ancient history to the present day.
To summarize his experience, Mr. Wolson thought “anything that shows a different light on any subject is important for people to know” and that he is bringing home with him “something that feels very special.”
“It’s wonderful that we’re able to see something of Chinese culture that Chinese people in China right now might not be able to. It’s sad, a little bit, that we’re able to be privileged to see this and people that deserve to see their own culture are being repressed.”
This performance marked the artists’ final show at Orange County. Shen Yun’s eight-equally sized companies are slated to tour over 200 cities around the world this season.
