Audience members, including Jean Rhyne, a director at the California State Park Ranger Association, experienced Shen Yun Performing Arts in Folsom, California. The company graced the Harris Center stage for three performances, showcasing China’s 5,000-year history.
“They actually look like flowers dancing across the stage,” Ms. Rhyne said at the Jan. 6 performance.
“The choreography is absolutely perfect. All of the dancers are doing exactly the same thing at the same time. It’s very professional,” Ms. Rhyne said.
Maureen Daly, former California deputy attorney general, was also in attendance.
“It’s completely new and unique to me,” Ms. Daly said, who came with her husband.
“I love ballet, but I’ve never seen anything like this before, the costumes, the characters, the facial expressions, the stories, they’re just so imaginative and so beautiful. I’m really inspired. It’s lovely,” Ms. Daly said.
“It’s unique,” said Jennifer Pharr, a former community director in the real estate field.
“I feel like I’m learning a little bit about Chinese culture,” she said.
Established in New York in 2006, Shen Yun aims to revive authentic traditional Chinese culture through a display of classical Chinese dance and music.
“It’s wonderful that they’re spreading the word about their history, their challenges, the future of their beliefs,” Ms. Rhyne said.
Joey Hagen, owner of Bare Beauty by Joey, watched Shen Yun with Ms. Pharr.
“I think it is very relevant to what we’re going through right now, too, in America,” Ms. Hagen said. “It’s important to hold on to your faith even when things are crumbling around you.”
Ms. Daly said, “It’s mortifying that anyone would be persecuted for what they believe, as long as they’re not hurting anybody else and believing in principles like truth and justice and peace.”
“Those are things that should always be a matter of personal freedom,” the retired attorney said.
Shen Yun currently has eight companies simultaneously touring the world, and is performing in 21 countries this season.
The company has performances in Fresno and Sacramento in March.
NTD News, Folsom, California.
NTD is a media sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts, covering audience reactions since 2006.
