(Minghui.org) Shen Yun Performing Arts continued its North American and European tours with recent performances in Switzerland, United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States.
Shen Yun New York Company at the New Theatre in Oxford, United Kingdom, on January 14. The company presented three sold-out performances in Oxford January 14–15. (The Epoch Times)
Shen Yun New York Company at the Edinburgh Playhouse in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, on January 11. The company presented two sold-out performances in Edinburgh January 11–12. (The Epoch Times)
Shen Yun International Company at the AT&T Performing Arts Center–Winspear Opera House in Dallas, Texas, on the afternoon of January 7. The company presented two performances to packed houses in Dallas that day. (The Epoch Times)
Shen Yun New Era Company at the Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley, California, on January 15. The company presented five performances in Berkeley January 13–16. (Minghui.org)
Shen Yun Touring Company at the Johnny Mercer Theatre at Savannah Civic Center in Savannah, Georgia, on January 15. The company presented two performances to packed houses in Savannah January 14–15. (The Epoch Times)
Shen Yun Touring Company at the William B. Bell Auditorium in Augusta, Georgia, on January 10. The company presented two performances in Augusta January 10–11. (The Epoch Times)
Shen Yun North America Company at The Benedum Center for the Performing Arts in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on January 14. The company presented three performances in Pittsburgh January 14–15, all to packed houses with added seats. (The Epoch Times)
Shen Yun Global Company at the Théâtre de Beaulieu in Lausanne, Switzerland, on January 16. The company presented four performances in Lausanne January 14–17, all to packed houses with added seats. (The Epoch Times)
Shen Yun Global Company at the Jahrhunderthalle Frankfurt in Frankfurt, Germany, on January 12. The company presented four performances in Frankfurt January 10–12, all to packed houses. The January 12 performance was sold out in advance, and the local presenter released new seats to meet the demand. (The Epoch Times)
“This is Real Art, the Highest Art”
Dr. Michael Buchmann at the Shen Yun performance in Frankfurt, Germany, on January 11 (NTD Television)
Dr. Michael Buchmann, the founder of consulting company IMTEAM, saw Shen Yun in Frankfurt, Germany, on January 11.
“So magnificent! This is thousands of years of ancient culture. This kind of culture that had been passed down for thousands of years, these treasures, have very different arts. I think it’s indeed so wonderful. Truly unforgettable, so outstanding. This is real art, the highest art,” Dr. Buchmann said.
“The performance without a doubt delivered important messages. It showed people what is real value. Traditions are a kind of value. There’s also value that is above us humans – divinity. There are higher powers. I think this is a very important message.
“The Creator is by the side of everyone. If I believe it, He is in my heart, everywhere,” he said.
“They Are a Source of Hope”
Wayne Hankins and his wife at the Shen Yun performance in Berkeley, California, on January 14 (Minghui.org)
Wayne Hankins, executive director of Northern California’s Universal Peace Federation, saw Shen Yun with his wife in Berkeley, California, on January 14.
“I’ve seen it in clips on YouTube, but not in person... I was pleasantly surprised... The beauty of their dance, the heart that they’ve given, and their performance really touched me,” Mr. Hankins said.
“I believe [Shen Yun] are truly a power of goodness... They are seeking to change the world through music, through arts... to change the heart and minds of people to the beauty, goodness, and truth that they performed for.
“That is what inspires me... what gives me hope,” he said.
“What the CCP did to Falun Gong in China needs to be told in many different ways, so I was so pleased to see that,” he said of the piece portraying the current persecution of Falun Dafa.
“We live at a time that is really almost the crossroads between good and evil... Which way are we going to go?
“[Shen Yun] clearly saw the time of renewal in the world... where people believe in God, believe in goodness, believe in spirituality... and they showed it in their dance and in the images on the screen... So, they hit on a very important theme.
“They are a source of hope. They are truly ambassadors for peace on a world level,” he said.
Addressing the performers, Mr. Hankins said, “You’re doing something very wonderful... So keep going!”
The Messages Are “Very Timely for Today”
Mark and Elizabeth Ficocelli at the Shen Yun performance in Augusta, Georgia, on January 10 (The Epoch Times)
Mark Ficocelli, who works in rehabilitation technologist services, and Elizabeth Ficocelli, a voiceover artist, saw Shen Yun in Augusta, Georgia, on January 10.
“The show was astounding. It was beautiful,” said Mark.
“It was heartbreaking at times to see what you hear about, but really don’t always process: the oppression of the communist government in China and communism in general. To see the beauty of the ancient aspects of Chinese culture made me want to know more about that ancient history and the ancient culture of China that has such beauty, such a moral grounding, such an intent to blend the dignity of the human with the art and for the glory of the Creator. That was amazing to see,” he said.
Elizabeth said that she and her husband knew about China’s oppressive government prior to seeing the performance and expressed their sympathy for the Chinese people.
“We know what’s happening in China... We pray for their freedom one day and want to support this dance troupe going around the world, trying to bring this message to the world, that their own country can’t see this program right now and that is a crime. It’s a shame and I hope for the freedom for all people, but especially the Chinese,” she said.
Elizabeth added that suppression was not something exclusive to China. “This whole being suppressed—we’re having this in our own country. We’re not far behind China in this and I hope it’s a wakeup call to Americans in particular, but the whole world, because we’re all going down this path,” she said.
“I think the messages: virtues, kindness, compassion, forbearance—all those messages, I think, are true for all of us. They are very timely, even though they may be thousands of years old. They’re very timely for today.
“We do come from one Creator, who has a plan for our lives and it’s not how we’re living currently... There is a beautiful divine heaven awaiting us and a call to turn our lives back to that direction and to make that our goal for our lives here on earth,” she said.
Mark said he thought it was “extremely important to have Shen Yun travel the world, spreading the message of truth, but also spreading that message of hope that if we work together as a world under the belief that the Creator gave us dignity and gave us the ability to coexist peacefully and not under oppression... it will help bring the reality. I think sometimes people live in a blindness. They don’t want to see the truth because it’s too harsh and I think it’s important for people to see the truth.”
Mrs. Ficocelli resonated with the lyrics sung by the bel canto soloist. “The soprano singer—her lyrics really said it: if we’re just living our own lives and being God of our own lives—basically atheists—we’re not going to achieve [world harmony]... The absence of God is communism. That is evil. That is dark. That is what happens when we turn our lives away from God. We end up in human bondage,” she said.
“The message for us was a powerful spiritual message and it was refreshing to see that... Even in other mainstream entertainment, you don’t see those messages and they [Shen Yun] were very bold in what they proclaimed on that stage today,” Elizabeth said.
The Ficocellis also wished to express their respect for Shen Yun’s Artistic Director, D.F.
“I want to thank him for the effort and all the hard work of all these people... You know that they are extreme professionals. They are dedicated. They are committed. You can tell they believe in what they’re doing up on that stage. It’s not just an act for them. It’s their life. It’s their core belief and that comes through, so I definitely congratulate and encourage the Director to bring it out. Bring it to the world because this is the time. We need to hear it now,” Mark said.
“Thank him for his courage and all of the artists’ courage to be so vulnerable to say the truth in this beautiful way because it is risky to say the truth in today’s world... The Chinese people know it more than most because of the severe oppression of communism, so it’s amazing to see the courage that’s demonstrated through this performance, this beautiful presentation,” he said.
Elizabeth had a message she wished to be passed on to the dancers as well. “Thank them for the performance. I can’t imagine, I’m sure their whole lives are dedicated to performance and to study this ancient Chinese dance and so I am just grateful that they are doing this. They really touched my heart deeply tonight,” she said.
“A Story for All Your Senses for All the Time”
Theresa and Jeff Cooper at the Shen Yun performance in Worcester, Massachusetts, on January 14 (NTD Television)
Theresa and Jeff Cooper, professors at a local community college, saw Shen Yun in Worcester, Massachusetts, on January 14, to celebrate Theresa’s birthday.
“It was beautiful, absolutely beautiful,” said Theresa, who said it was a fun birthday experience, but also left her with a takeaway deeper than just a performance.
“As Christians, we’ve been following persecution in China. Jeff especially has been known to reach out to people who have been falsely imprisoned... It kind of reminded me of our privilege, and those that are still being persecuted in the world. And yet, the beauty of how you share the message interwoven with laughter and, but such sadness, was just absolutely beautiful.
“So, something certainly inspiring for me and makes me remember things I might have forgotten in the busy day of what we do for work,” she said.
Jeff said the performers delivered a message beautifully, straight from their hearts to the audiences’.
“They’re very human. They’re very, they come from the heart... From there you can connect their distant and historic things [that] hearts have been feeling for centuries, you know. They express it right out in front, in present time. You know, real-time, you’re hearing this. Thousands of years of human yearning, and loss and gain and hope,” he said.
He thoroughly recommended the experience: “Open your heart and mind to a story for all your senses for all the time.”
Theresa summed up the experience as “an escape that’s real and timeless.”
“Shen Yun Makes You Feel Connected to the Divine”
Nicole Diamond and Graham Inglis at the Shen Yun performance in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, on January 11 (The Epoch Times)
Nicole Diamond, a financial advisor, and her friend Graham Inglis saw Shen Yun in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, on January 11.
“Shen Yun makes you feel connected to the Divine; makes you feel enlightened, make you feel that you are walking out a better person than when you walked in,” said Ms. Diamond.
“I think without compassion, we end up becoming barbarians, so for me, compassion is at the heart of the Divine. It’s about eternal love—eternal compassion, and when we feel compassion, we all want to take care of each other; we want to take care of our society, our families and the world—so compassion is at the heart of everything,” she said.
She also spoke about the ongoing persecution of Falun Gong practitioners by the Chinese communist regime portrayed in the performance.
“What I found inspiring was, against the political backdrop of oppression and trying to stop their faith, their belief, they kept going. They didn’t give up, and they had faith in themselves and God, the universe, and it was inspiring,” said Ms. Diamond.
She added that the undying faith of Falun Dafa practitioners was something that she could understand. “I really connected with it. I am a believer in the glory of the Creator, so I felt that it touched my soul, and I thought it was absolutely inspiring, the story behind it, and it was wonderful!” she said.
“I think you feel immense joy and absolute faith and belief in humankind and we are part of something much greater than ourselves, and you felt connected, belonging. It absolutely touched my heart and soul.
“I would say it’s a very powerful energy but a very connective energy. It felt like everyone was one unity, and so it was a real strong sense of divine unity... It sort of takes you up through the frequency of energy to a higher energy frequency and you feel enlightened,” Ms. Diamond said.
Public Officials Personally Welcome Shen Yun
Pennsylvania State Senators Patrick J. Stefano (right) and Devlin Robinson (second left), and Melvin Hubbard El (center) from the Pittsburgh mayoral office, presented Shen Yun North America Company with certificates of appreciation on January 15. (NTD Television)
“I brought today my Certificate for Appreciation for what you’ve done, what you’ve created here, and the emotion and the imagery, and the message all tied together. I really appreciate that on behalf of the Pennsylvania State Senate. I thank you for what you’ve done,” said Pennsylvania State Senator Patrick J. Stefano.
State Senator Devlin Robinson said of the performance, “It did not disappoint. I loved everything from the costume design to the passion of the performers to the orchestra. Everything was top-notch.”
Melvin Hubbard El, an advisor to Pittsburgh’s mayor, shared his belief that everyone in Pennsylvania should come and see Shen Yun. “Everybody across Pennsylvania should be here to see this today... Don’t miss the next time it comes through here. Be here and experience for yourself, because it’s something you have to experience,” Mr. Hubbard El said.
Also in the audience was Pennsylvania State Representative Jessica Benham. Coming from a musical family, she extended her compliments to Shen Yun’s orchestra.
“The orchestra was lovely. To hear the combination of the Western and the Eastern instruments, beautiful harmonies. It was beautiful,” she said.
“I think, for me, it was the way that the story was told just with music and dance. That was gorgeous... I don’t think anyone can watch a performance filled with that much emotion and not come away touched by it,” said Ms. Benham.
Ms. Benham came to the performance to present “a proclamation on behalf of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to honor the cultural contribution by Shen Yun.”
Mayor of Savannah Van R. Johnson presented a proclamation to the Shen Yun Touring Company in person at the Johnny Mercer Theatre at Savannah Civic Center in Savannah, Georgia, on January 14. (The Epoch Times)
“I try to come every year it comes, and Savannah’s so blessed to have this awesome show come to our city,” Mayor Johnson said.
“We give proclamations only for the most special occasions here in the City of Savannah. And we look forward to Shen Yun coming to Savannah every year. And I wanted to make sure we marked this special occasion with a proclamation, not only welcoming the production back to Savannah but encouraging our citizens to come out and enjoy this wonderful performance,” he said.
Upcoming Performances
Shen Yun continues its 2023 tour with upcoming performances in Portland, Oregon, January 20–22; Denver, Colorado, January 20–24; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, January 21; Groningen, Netherlands, January 20–22; and Utsunomiya, Japan, January 21–22.
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