Shen Yun’s Message Is Refreshing and Gives You a Sense of Hope, Says Attorney
CLAREMONT, Calif.—Paul Saghera, a trial attorney and the owner of Saghera Law Group, attended Shen Yun for the first time on March 11, after hearing about the performance over a year ago.
Sitting with his wife in the Bridges Auditorium, Mr. Saghera thought the whole experience was fantastic.
The performance “was fascinating! I’ve had a very strong interest in Chinese culture, so it’s been a very enriching experience,” he said.
“Art is expressed in many different ways. What [Shen Yun] has done here—they’ve chosen to tell the stories through dance, which I’m assuming was the way it was done in times past—is very fascinating and unique.”
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 destroyed. The spread of atheism quickly eradicated Chinese people’s belief in the divine.
Today, the New York-based Shen Yun is working to revive this lost civilization and bring it back to the world through dance and music, the beauty of pre-communist China.
“I liked [the spiritual part] very much! It talked about the core values that we don’t necessarily see so much anymore. I find it refreshing that it’s still here. It gives you a sense of hope,” Mr. Saghera expressed.
He developed a strong interest in Chinese culture after his parents had toured China for three weeks and considered it one of the most interesting trips they’d ever taken. Seeing Shen Yun’s ethnic and folk dances helped him understand why.
“It was fantastic. There’s so much diversity—but that’s the beauty of dance—it varies from region to region. I’m finding it very interesting.”
Every year, Shen Yun can be expected to return with a brand-new set of music and choreography. So, the program will always be a surprise for both new and returning audience members.
Moreover, Mr. Saghera was very impressed by the talent of the dancers. Shen Yun’s artists are all trained in classical Chinese dance. It is one of the world’s most expressive and comprehensive dance forms.
“The skills of the performers are amazing! These are some of the finest classical Chinese dancers in the world. So, you’re seeing a very high skill level,” Mr. Saghera said.
“I’ll tell my friends about the show and come back to see it again!”
Reporting by Jana Li and Jennifer Tseng.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.