Senior Chief Legalman Hopes Shen Yun Will Perform in China One Day

Harold Henck, a senior chief legalman in the U.S. Navy, has watched Shen Yun six times, and most recently at New York’s Lincoln Center on March 18.

He says Shen Yun’s world-class performances, and the message they spread, should not only be accessible to Americans and the free world, but also to those living in China today.

“I really loved the overall message of faith and hope and just general a message of love and peace, despite the evils and violence in the world,” said Henck.

“I think it’s a shame that this show has been seen all over the world—at least all over the free world—and the people in China themselves can’t see it.

“You can only pray and hope that there will be a day where that will not be the case,” he added.

For decades, the Chinese communist regime has treated traditional culture as a threat to its power. In fact, Shen Yun is still not allowed to perform in China despite it being a show about Chinese culture.

But outside of China, Shen Yun has been welcomed by audiences from all walks of life.

“It’s very beautiful. The colors are amazing, and the dancing is also very interesting, culturally,” said Sonia Bromberg, an attorney who also saw Shen Yun at the Lincoln Center on March 18.

“There is definitely a big component—emotional, in the inner spirit—that comes out from this piece and dynamic that goes on the stage,” said Ugo Didonato, operations director at Pace Gallery.

“You can really feel how passionate everyone is about what they’re doing and what it stands for,” added Deb Neumann, an attorney.

In addition to artistry and beauty, Shen Yun honors the spiritual essence of Chinese civilization, such as harmony among heaven, earth, and humankind, and virtues like tolerance, courage, faith, and compassion.

Phillip Ruvelas, a technology auditor, also saw in the show “the idea of the gods put us on the earth and that we are here serving the gods, but also growing ourselves to become better in the world we’re given, and the effect the world has on us.”

“There’s a glow to all of the dancers and you can tell that they’ve been inspired, for the work that they’re doing, for the dancing that they’re doing, so ‘the beauty of divine beings dancing,’ you can absolutely tell,” Neumann said, referring to the translation of “Shen Yun.”

“The breadth and depth of Chinese culture is just incredibly vast, and there’s an awful lot there that we don’t know and it would be great, I think, for everyone to learn more about it.”