Shen Yun Performing Arts reached another milestone in its global tour when it arrived in Puerto Rico on Jan. 17, marking its first-ever tour of the Caribbean island.
After landing at the San Juan International Airport, Shen Yun’s dancers and musicians were met with a warm welcome from fans awaiting their arrival.
Having just completed a show in Worcester, Massachusetts, the Shen Yun troupe was excited to bring their performances to the people of Puerto Rico.
Hongwei Sun, a principal dancer with Shen Yun, expressed happiness at introducing Shen Yun’s best to Puerto Rico.
“I want to bring the best of Shen Yun to Puerto Rico so that the people can get some good messages and be inspired by it,” he said.
Megan Li, another principal dancer, shared her excitement about performing in Puerto Rico for the first time.
“This is a great opportunity for the people here to experience Chinese culture,” she said.
Brian Marple, a percussionist with the Shen Yun Orchestra, also expressed his enthusiasm.
“I think we’ve done shows in Mexico, a lot of shows in Latin America … it shows that people are really excited about the show,” he said.
The heart of Shen Yun’s performances lies in showcasing stories derived from 5,000 years of Chinese civilization.
“Shen Yun performances are based on stories drawn from 5,000 years of Chinese culture, and we use these stories to express universal traditional concepts and values,” said Mr. Hongwei.
“These values such as benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom, trust, sincerity, kindness, and tolerance are values that can benefit all mankind, regardless of language or ethnicity.”
Such is the appeal of Shen Yun that tickets for all six performances in Puerto Rico were sold out a week before it began. In response to the overwhelming demand, local organizers had to increase the number of seats to accommodate more audience members.
Mark Casilieris, a local organizer, expressed great satisfaction at the successful arrival of Shen Yun in Puerto Rico.
Mr. Marple encouraged those who missed tickets to ensure they get the chance next time if Shen Yun visits.
Shen Yun is performing six shows over four days in San Juan until Jan. 22. The troupe will move then on to their next destination, Sacramento, California.
NTD News, San Juan, Puerto Rico
