(Minghui.org) In the first week of January 2018, Shen Yun Performing Arts continued touring North America with performances in Arkansas, northern California, Texas, Georgia, and Toronto.

Shen Yun International Company performed eight sold-out shows at the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco, California on January 1-7, 2018.

Shen Yun New York Company's curtain call at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto, Canada on January 6, 2018. All eight performances on January 3-7 saw full houses.

Shen Yun World Company's performance at the AT&T Performing Arts Center–Winspear Opera House in Dallas, Texas on January 7, 2018.

Shen Yun helps “elevate the level of what has performed here”

Alexander Neef, general director of the Canadian Opera Company, at the Shen Yun performance at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto on January 3, 2018

“Extremely well done,” said Alexander Neef, the general director of the Canadian Opera Company. “They’re very, very accomplished.”

“We look at the Four Seasons for the Performing Arts as the foremost venue in Canada for the performing arts, all of the performing arts, and it’s wonderful to have Shen Yun in the building and really help us elevate the level of what has performed here,” he said.

“Everything is beyond expectation”

George Anthony, a creative consultant for CBC Television, at the Shen Yun performance in Toronto on January 7, 2018

“We wonder why we waited so long... Everything is beyond expectation,” said George Anthony, creative consultant of CBC Television.

“We’re really quite dazzled by it... The performances, the dancing, are superb. The costumes are wonderful,” he said.

“The culture is amazing to be shared... The stories are very entertaining, engrossing, and surprising,” Mr. Anthony added.

“Evocative” and “magnetic”

Philip Mann, conductor of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, at the Robinson Performance Hall in Little Rock, Arkansas, on January 1

“[The music] is fantastic. I think it’s very well performed. It’s evocative, beautiful music,” said Philip Mann, the conductor of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra.

“The execution is just fantastic. It’s grasping; it’s magnetic; it has a great deal of appeal,” Mr. Mann said.

“My whole family has really enjoyed it, and I think the musicians are superlative in their phenomenal performance,” he said.

“Fluid and strong”

Television host Diane Wagner (right) and psychologist Brenda Wade at the San Francisco War Memorial Opera House in California on January 3, 2018

“The artistry is beautiful... The dancers are very well trained, extremely fluid, very strong,” said television host Diane Wagner.

“There are a few [stories] that brought tears to my eyes,” she said.

“The show is incredibly beautiful... It was inspiring,” said psychologist Brenda Wade, who attended the performance with Ms. Wagner.

“A sense of hope”

Art teacher Kenji Tanner at the performance in San Francisco on January 7, 2018

“Very invigorating... Just truly inspiring,” said art teacher Kenji Tanner.

“The colors were phenomenal... The costumes, the grace, the peacefulness. It really gave me a sense of hope,” she said.

“I did not expect it to be so holy... It’s more than just a dance. It’s really a message, a deep spiritual message,” Ms. Tanner said.

“I learned a lot about the Chinese heritage. It was so beautiful, so caring,” she added.

Shen Yun will continue its tour with upcoming performances in New York City on January 11–21; Jackson, Mississippi on January 11; and Montreal, Canada on January 11–14. For more information on tickets and dates, please visit http://shenyun.com.