CLAREMONT, Calif.—Sal Medina, the Mayor of Claremont, was wowed by the beauty of Shen Yun when he attended the company’s matinee on March 10, at the Bridges Auditorium.

He brought with him a welcome letter to congratulate the artists’ success and extend his best wishes for their 2024 world tour.

“It was fantastic. It’s very different from any theater production I’ve seen. I just enjoyed the pageantry, the color, the movement—it was exciting,” Mayor Medina said.

“I think [the performers] are incredible that they’re taking on this challenge. Here in the U.S., we enjoy these opportunities so much more regularly than in other parts of the world. I think the idea that they’re trying to take this to a global theater—I applaud them and wish them the absolute most success.”

Since Shen Yun Performing Arts’ advent in 2006, the group has grown to become a global sensation, with eight equally sized companies set to perform in over 200 cities this year.

Referring to the skill and talent of the dancers, Mayor Medina said, “It’s absolutely major.”

“I’m always curious as to how long these dancers trained to perform at this level because, in my opinion, whenever you get to a point in which you’re so great at what you do, that’s thousands and thousands of hours. It’s absolutely beautiful.”

“What I really enjoyed was the storytelling without words and being able to really identify with the story as it makes its way through,” Mayor Medina added. “It’s funny because as a restaurateur— [the story] about the restaurant and the health inspector—instant, I was very connected with the storyline.”

“For me personally, it’s something that I’m searching for and dealing with. I think being able to have a story like this [from] different ethnic groups, allows us to connect with each other a little bit more.”

For him, Shen Yun’s message is about human connections and that “we’re not alone in this world.”

“There is a connectivity between our cultures wherever we may be, whether it’s here or abroad or in another part of the world. [It’s something] that we can’t deny. I believe the performance is teaching us that this connectivity exists and is alive,” the mayor elaborated.