AUSTIN, Texas—Watching Shen Yun Performing Arts was an enlightening afternoon for Mr. Scott Jenkines, chief of staff for State Representative Armando Martinez, and his wife, Mrs. Rita Jenkines, an elementary school counsellor.
“It’s a reminder to me that there’s more than this,” Mrs. Jenkines said of everyday life. “[To] try to keep your head up out of the mud and see the bigger picture and acknowledge people on a different level.”
“It’s just very enjoyable, the learning of the Chinese history and the culture, and the traditions,” Mr. Jenkines said.
Mr. Jenkines said he was appreciative of being able to see traditional Chinese culture, which is said to be divinely inspired, as presented by New York-based Shen Yun.
“Excellent, great,” he said. “I hadn’t really been exposed to it … I always enjoy understanding and seeing the traditions of other cultures.”
“It’s enlightening, it tends to bring a positiveness, a spirit and oneness with everyone,” Mrs. Jenkines said. “Despite our varying religions, it centers on who we all are and the essence of everything.
“The culture always seems to center on equality and fairness, and acceptance,” she added.
Mrs. Jenkines was particularly touched by An Unexpected Encounter, which addressed the persecution in China by the Chinese Communist Party of the spiritual belief Falun Dafa.
“I’m glad they did it, because people need to understand that and be exposed to that,” Mrs. Jenkines said of the depiction of the persecution through the dance.
Mr. Jenkines agreed and felt Shen Yun could be educational for everyone.
“[It] allows us to be more understanding, hopefully overall more accepting of people with different beliefs,” he said. “If we all did, the world would be a better place.”
Mr. Jenkines was moved by soprano Rachel Yuning Bastick, who sang Sacred Song in the bel canto style with original Chinese lyrics and the translations projected on the backdrop.
“Her voice was fantastic,” Mr. Jenkines said. “Sometimes it’s just nice to listen to it even when you don’t [speak Chinese] because you just get the emotion of the song.”
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
