August 25, 2009

Mrs. Annette Lantos, chairwoman of the Lantos Foundation, is one of the sponsors for Shen Yun Performing Arts in Kennedy Center. (John Yu/The Epoch Times)

(Clearwisdom.net) WASHINGTON--An exclusive, invitation-only performance of world-renowned Shen Yun Performing Arts graced the stage of Kennedy Center Opera House on August 25.

Many of the Washington VIPs who attended were special guests of Mrs. Annette Lantos, one of the sponsors of this VIP show. Mrs. Lantos is the chairwoman of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice, which was created after the death of her late husband, Congressman Tom Lantos.

Both born in Hungary and survivors of the Nazi holocaust against the Jews, Mr. and Mrs. Lantos spent years together fighting for the rights of persecuted groups around the world. Mrs. Lantos served as the volunteer director of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, established by her late husband.

"Tom was very devoted to human rights issues in China, including the cause of Falun Gong," said Mrs. Lantos in an invitation letter for the VIP show. "Their belief in the universal values of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance is admirable and reflects the most important shared beliefs that those of us in the human rights community honor.

"I think Falun Gong has been holding China to its principles ... testing them how much they are willing to accept. ... I believe in their message of compassion, of caring, of service and I believe in their right to practice what they believe in," she said in an interview at the show.

"For this reason I am particularly excited about an experience I look forward to sharing with you this August that will introduce you to the pinnacle of traditional Chinese culture and embodies the values I have mentioned above," she wrote.

Shen Yun, a premier Chinese dance and music company, has performed in more than 90 cities on five continents in 2009, including seven shows at the Kennedy Center back in February. It encompasses classical Chinese dance, ethnic Chinese dances, bel canto solo performances, 3D backdrops, and accompanying live orchestra.

After seeing the show once again on Tuesday, Mrs. Lantos said she appreciated it more.

"I think it was better than ever and it's always very good. I love the message and the beauty of this performance, and that's why we have been sponsoring it for quite a long time," she said.

"We cannot tell you how much we are overwhelmed by the wonderful, talented beauty that these young Chinese dancers have demonstrated to us."

The show includes stories from different episodes of China's rich five-millennia-old history. Many of those stories shape the values of Chinese people today.

"I think the message is compassion, devotion--basically that the love of freedom. I am very much appreciative of that."

Shen Yun will stage six public shows in Washington, D.C. on August 26-30.

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/21528/