United States: Washington DC Audience Members Moved by Shen Yun

Dr. Cohn, a senior law professor at Georgetown University, and his granddaughter were thrilled to see Shen Yun Performing Arts for the first time at the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington DC on Thursday, August 27th, 2009.

On the evening of August 27, Shen Yun performers answered two curtain calls

"I think it's a beautiful show. I'm just amazed at the professional character of the actors, and the choreography is incredible. It's one of the most beautiful shows I've seen," said Dr. Cohn.

"The choreography and the use of the scenery - I've never seen it done as well. I found this incredible," said Dr. Cohn. He was invited to the show by his granddaughter, Emma, who just arrived in Washington D.C. from Ireland.

Dr. Cohn indicated that he had some knowledge of Chinese culture before seeing Shen Yun. He is familiar with Oriental medicine and acupuncture, and currently serves as the President of the National Acupuncture Foundation.

He said he appreciated the message of freedom and choice he received from the show. "That is a worldwide message for all people," he said.

Emma, currently a middle school student, was also delighted with Shen Yun. "I thought it was beautiful with all the bright colors and the fans," said Emma.

"It would be nice to learn a dance kind of like that; it was just, 'wow,'" she said, adding that all of the programs were very impressive.

The professor summed up their experience by saying, "It's one of the most beautiful shows I've ever seen!"

Attorney Deeply Moved: "Absolutely Profound"

Joining the packed audience for Thursday night's performance was Mr. Richard Waters, an attorney, who was visibly moved after seeing Shen Yun. "I was absolutely amazed! I thought it was just a wonderful show. All of the pieces fit together. There are pieces that just moved me, especially the spirituality of the performances - it just moved me to no end. Where I looked at the dances, and then, when the singers came on and you read the script, you just thought you were in church - it was so profound."

His long-time friend from school who accompanied him to the performance added, "The spirituality part was the part that amazed me more than any other part. I wasn't aware of the depth of spirituality of the Chinese people. And I was telling someone else earlier, that I found a kinship to Chinese people on that level. I used the example of a bicycle wheel and humanity. The closer we are to the core of our divinity, the closer we are to each other. And that part came out. So I can see this then as an instrument for world peace. I would encourage everybody to attend."

Mr. Waters continued, "Looking at the performance and actually trying to figure out what part of history each performance depicts - it was just a wonderful learning experience. And the dances were so professional and so absolutely profound.

"I thought I knew what to expect, but I didn't really - I was really awed. I was just really awed. It was more than I ever expected. It just awed me, it was just absolutely awesome. I was just amazed throughout the whole performance.

"Even at the areas where you would think that there would be a lot more energy exerted, there was still an underlying peace that undergirded each of the performances. And that I thought was distinct from a lot of other cultures. That undergirded peace that was there. It was almost like transcendental meditation... Even you though you go deeper, there's still a resounding peace."

Mr. Waters friend was moved by the spirituality, "Because that [spirituality] is the one entity that we all possess even in our diversity. And I think that was at the point where we all could connect and you could connect there at a deeper level. Of course you see performances all the time, but when they get to the depth of your soul, that is the part where we all connect at a different level that is even beyond what words could articulate."

She was also amazed by the dancers, "The precision by which they executed the art was fantastic. But I thought it was inspirational, transformational - informative and transformational."

Mr. Waters went on to describe how profoundly the performances affected him, "For me, the singers and the script behind the singing. You read that - you really thought you were in church. It was the same kind of effect, it was just so moving. And then when that tenor got up and sang, I almost started crying. He was just so moving, just so amazing to me. And the words in the script - everything just felt...like it was a learning experience."

His friend agreed, adding, "I'll tell you the sermon that I got. The sermon regarding compassion and dignity. And the transformative part I got from the sermon earlier is patience. Because often, we have a tendency to rush to the end of whatever we desire. But I think that as they said, when it's true - when truth comes about, then freedom takes place.

"We got more from this than we do from going to church!"