(Clearwisdom.net) The Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company is staging thirteen glorious shows at The Kennedy Center Opera House, in Washington, D.C., between March 21 and April 1, 2012. The show has attracted many government officials who were full of praise for the flawless performances.

Ray LaHood, Secretary of Transportation: 'I’d give it an A-plus'

Ray LaHood, secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, attends Shen Yun at the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington, D.C. Sunday March 25. (Courtesy of The Epoch Times)

Among the many honored guests in the audience was U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, who was accompanied by his wife.

“I’d give it an A-plus,” Mr. LaHood said after seeing the show. “We live across from the Kennedy, so we like to come here—and we wanted to see this performance.”

The transportation secretary said modestly, “I work with President Obama as his secretary of transportation.” He was appointed the 16th secretary of transportation by President Obama in 2009.

Mr. LaHood thoroughly enjoyed the performance saying that the music, costumes, and scenery were all beautiful.

Noting the quality of the performance, Mr. LaHood said, “The precision of the dancers is just perfect.”

He said he was grateful that he had been able to see Shen Yun, “I’ll definitely recommend it,” he said. “It’s beautiful.”

Washington, D.C. VIPs appreciate Shen Yun

It was the New York-based company’s third season at the capital’s Kennedy Center when the 2012 season opened on March 21. (Courtesy of The Epoch Times)

Also in the audience was B.J. Penn, former U.S. Navy Secretary in the Department of Defense.

“It was fantastic,” Mr. Penn said of the show. It was “top notch.”

B.J. Penn, former US Navy Secretary in the Department of Defense attended Shen Yun and the VIP reception following the performance at the Kennedy Center, Washington D.C. March 21. (Courtesy of The Epoch Times)

J.D. Gordon, a former Defense Department spokesman who served under both Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Secretary Robert Gates, also was in attendance.

He said he thoroughly enjoyed the Shen Yun performance, especially the insights he got into traditional Chinese culture.

“It was really a wonderful performance,” he said. “I think it was great see the Chinese culture alive here in Washington, celebrating 5,000 years from all the different regions of China.”

“We got to see the different dances and different costumes from all the different regions of China, so that was very special to me,” said Mr. Penn, who is 25 per cent Chinese, thus making the show richly rewarding for him.

Dr. John Lenczowski, the founder and president of The Institute of World Politics (IWP), an independent graduate school of statecraft and national security affairs in Washington, D.C. attended Shen Yun on opening night.

The IWP is the “only academic institution dedicated to teaching all the arts of statecraft, including: military strategy, the art of diplomacy, public diplomacy, opinion formation, political warfare, intelligence, counterintelligence, economic strategy, and moral leadership,” according to the Institute’s website.

Dr. Lenczowski described Shen Yun as, “A very rare cultural contribution to the United States and to the world.”

Montgomery County executive: Shen Yun ‘something the whole family can enjoy’

Isiah Leggett says Shen Yun is a creative performance. (Courtesy of The Epoch Times)

Isiah Leggett, county executive for Montgomery County, Maryland attended the sold-out performance of Shen Yun on Saturday, March 24.

“This is our second time attending the show; we attended about two years ago. It’s something the whole family can enjoy, so I’m delighted to be back again,” said Mr. Leggett.

“Wonderful creativity with large numbers of dancers,” added Mr. Leggett. “Just amazed at how they keep it so fresh and creative.”

The modern-day dance sets depicting the persecution of Falun Dafa especially caught Mr. Leggett’s attention. “The message of oppression—people challenged, the challenges to live their faith and do things that they want to do, which is consistent with the American spirit of freedom of religion, I think that’s the clear message,” he said. “It brings some level of attention to what we see happening there.”

“Falun Gong, also called Falun Dafa, is guided by the principles of ‘Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance,’ states Shen Yun’s website.

Company owner: ‘I like the values’

Also in the audience was Ed and Carolyn Hines, who own and operate CW Hines & Associates, a marketing and public relations company.

Mr. Hines said that he and his wife were “particularly happy to see … Shen Yun preserving traditional Chinese culture.”

He added, “The show was absolutely wonderful, absolutely fantastic, and the effort they put into it—Shen Yun is just a wonderful, wonderful show.”

The dance set, Flower Fairies, particularly caught the interest of Mrs. Hines, where “Flower blossoms transform into fluttering fairies to join in ethereal dance,” according to Shen Yun’s program.

Mrs. Hines said, “I like the values,” adding, “We did not know much about China, and I was surprised to know that you can do this in America and around the country but you cannot show this in China. So I am glad that you are able to do that.”

Mr. Hines thought the animation on the digital backdrop was “fantastic.”

“I think this is a wonderful thing that you are bringing to America and to the world,” he said. “We urge everyone to come out and see Shen Yun!”

Sources:
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/shen-yun-on-tour/ray-lahood-transportation-head-gives-shen-yun-a-plus-211198.html
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/shen-yun-on-tour/vips-in-washington-appreciate-shen-yun-209457.html
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/shen-yun-on-tour/montgomery-county-executive-shen-yun-something-the-whole-family-can-enjoy-210330.html