"I come back every year that it is available since I first saw the show because it is the most phenomenal performance I have ever seen in my life. It is a triumph to the human soul. It is an illumination of spirit on stage and it is utterly the most perfect performance I have ever seen," she praised.
Ms. Skarda's friend, Steven Sanders, a retired federal agency officer, joined her at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts on March 13 to celebrate his retirement. Attending the performance for the second time, he found it even more captivating than before.
"I saw it from the balcony tonight and that gave me perspective on all of the movements on the stage that I didn't have the first time. It was much more enlivening and rich to be able to see the full perspective and hear the music up there tonight. It was extraordinary," he said.
The two friends loved the ancient Chinese legends brought to life through the story-based dances. Mr. Sanders, in particular, was drawn to the tale of a young man who fell in love with a fairy. Against all odds, their love endured.
In addition to classical Chinese, ethnic, and folk dances, a Shen Yun performance features musical programs, including singers trained in the classical bel canto style and a solo on the erhu -- a 4,000-year-old Chinese instrument known for its ability to convey a vast range of emotions.
Shen Yun "gives me a sense, as I open the next chapter of my life, that there is something more awaiting me."