NEW YORK, New York — On March 26, Shen Yun kicked off a 14-show run at the prestigious David H. Koch Theater in Lincoln Center. Audience members emerged beaming, telling reporters how they were overjoyed to witness the show’s vibrant depictions of classical Chinese dance through gravity-defying acrobatics, music, and choreography.
Founded in 2006 and based in New York, Shen Yun Performing Arts is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company. The company aims to revive 5,000 years of traditional culture and values through immersive performances to showcase China’s authentic heritage prior to the ravages of communism. The company currently has eight equally-sized troupes that tour and perform across the globe simultaneously. It puts on a brand new production every year.
While the opening night mesmerized audiences with Shen Yun’s breathtaking combination of classical Chinese dance, an East and West orchestral fusion, and cutting-edge digital backdrops that brought ancient Chinese civilizations to life, theatergoers on March 28 also had much praise to give. Here’s what they had to say.
RELATED: ‘Breathtaking’: Audience Members Praise Shen Yun’s Opening Night at Lincoln Center
‘Breathtaking’
Sisters Maureen and Donna, alongside their friend Angela, attended Shen Yun’s performance on March 28. The trio told reporters that the show was “breathtaking” and that they most enjoyed the “synchronicity, movement, and grace,” coupled with the show’s vibrant “music and stories.”
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“I’m in awe. The show is just breathtaking. It’s really, really, really beautiful and you should be proud,” said Donna in regards to Shen Yun’s elite dancers. “Thank you for dancing and singing for me. I’m not a linguist and I’m probably gonna say this wrong, but xie xie,” (she said meaning “thank you” in Chinese).
Donna, who’s worked as a nurse at Bellevue Hospital for 32 years, said she particularly enjoyed some of the ethnic dance pieces in the show. “ I loved the Tibetan men’s dance because of the show of strength and tranquility,” she said, adding, “And when they would do their gymnastics and the backward flips, the moves were so hard but so impressive.”
“There really are no words for how skilled they are and the message that they’re giving out, and they’re actually educating and entertaining at the same time, so it really is beautiful,” added Donna.
“I have wanted to come to Shen Yun for many years,” said Maureen, who attended the performance as a birthday gift from sister Donna. “[The show] makes you feel alive, it makes you want to go back to [tradition] instead of what it is now,” she said, adding, “It brings me such joy from the inside out and I feel so happy to be here. “
She added, “It’s so amazing to see China before communism. To witness this culture before it was squelched by the Chinese government, it’s amazing. Today in this world, it’s easy to not be your true self. I think that’s bittersweet and there’s a bit of sadness. But to know that they’re suffering day in and day out under communism, that breaks my heart.”
Shen Yun’s performances aim not only to entertain; they also educate audiences on important social and political issues taking place in China today. The performances aim to raise awareness on human rights’ issues to provide a unique perspective on the human spirit and the importance of not taking certain freedoms for granted.
One of the storylines the show touches upon is the ongoing persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong, is a spiritual practice that combines meditation exercises with a moral philosophy based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance (真善忍). Many of Shen Yun’s performers are children of Falun Gong practitioners, or practice the discipline themselves.
After becoming widely popular in China in the 1990s — with millions of people, including high-ranking government officials taking up the practice — the communist authorities launched a brutal persecution campaign to eradicate the practice in July 1999. Since then, many Falun Gong adherents have died at the hands of Chinese police for refusing to renounce their faith.
‘Just spectacular’
When asked about what other aspects of the show stood out to them, Maureen said, ”I think [the show] peels away the layers of pain. And I love that.” She also mentioned the use of Shen Yun’s integrative, digital backdrop, which is used to create scenes from different dynasties, celestial realms, and ethnic regions.
“Keep bringing positivity and teaching Americans that maybe we don’t know everything — and to be compassionate — more compassion goes a long way from us to them,” she added.
“I also love the special effects, that was so great,” said Maureen. “How do they do that with the backdrop? It was spectacular when they jumped in and out [of the screen]. It was really amazing and beautiful.”
When asked what she would tell Shen Yun performers if given the chance, Angela said, “Thank you so much for sharing the gift of your talent, devotion, and passion about your culture.” She added, “There are no words to show how much I appreciate that. And I have to say, I personally have a problem with the whole communist thing, so thank you for exposing that.”
‘I liked everything’
Lupita, who attended the show with her five-year-old daughter Abigail on March 28, told reporters that she enjoyed learning more about classical Chinese dance and culture, and that she thought the performance was “beautiful” and “peaceful.”
“We read about how the show was produced, the meaning and history behind it, and that caught our attention at first,” said Lupita, who works in science as a veterinarian pathologist.
She added, “And when my daughter saw the [promotional] videos with all the dancing, she was captivated by it.” The pair who attended Shen Yun’s performance last year, said they were eager to “learn even more about Shen Yun” and how the history of 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture” came to be.
When asked if any moments stood out to them throughout the evening, Lupita said, “I liked everything, so it’s hard to pinpoint something in particular.” She added, “I would like to [tell Shen Yun artists] that they are fantastic. That we love all that they do and I’m so impressed with how hard they practice every single day to be consistent enough to perform that way. I admire them.”
‘It felt divine’
Emmanuel, who attended the performance on March 28 with his mother Fatima, said he was curious to see Shen Yun as a longtime admirer of Chinese and Japanese culture. “I liked everything; the show really felt divine and I particularly enjoyed the female dancers in the pink dresses and water sleeves — it was very pretty.”
When asked if he would recommend the show to family and friends, Emmanuel said, “I would definitely recommend it because this show isn’t ordinary, especially with the classical components and the orchestra. It’s not your everyday activity.”
Shen Yun’s performances, which are complemented by a live orchestra that combine both classical Chinese and Western instruments, take audiences on a soul-stirring journey through time and space. One of the featured instruments is the two-string erhu — an ancient instrument that is used to depict a wide range of musical sounds and emotions.
‘Amazing’
Edwin and Jenny Rosado, who attended Shen Yun’s performance in Lincoln Center on March 28, said they decided to see the show after getting tickets at the Walt Whitman mall. “I loved it; it was amazing,” said Edwin, who works as a real estate property manager. “All the colors, the music, the dancing, and the background was spectacular. The way they disappeared and came back [from the screen] it was amazing.”
“It was beautiful. I loved it from beginning to end. The creator coming back was very moving and amazing,” said Jenny who works as a registered nurse (RN) on Long Island.
When asked about what they would tell Shen Yun’s dancers if given the chance, Edwin thanked the artists and said, “ You guys are wonderful. Keep going. We love what you do and can’t wait to see you again.”
Cristal, who attended the show on March 28, said she came to see Shen Yun after winning free tickets through a school raffle. “It always looked very beautiful but I haven’t had a chance to see it before today,” she said, adding, “ The performances were amazing. They were so synchronized, athletic, and just amazing.”
When asked what stood out to her the most, Cristal said, “Some of the acrobatic feats they did were amazing and the colors were so beautiful. And the backdrops — the backdrops were really cool.”
Bolstering art
Cristal, who’s currently attending nursing school and works as a hospital administrator, said it was hard to pick just one part that she enjoyed the most. “It was a very good show and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s hard to choose because there’s so many great dances but I really liked the men’s classical dance where it showed how your inner tranquility is representative of your outer strength. I really enjoyed that.”
When asked if she had a favorite piece, Cristal said she enjoyed seeing her erhu and the water sleeves. “I also loved the peacock dance,” she added. “And I liked the comedic relief that they kind of sprinkled throughout each of the segments.”
Cristal also lamented how Shen Yun is oppressed in China today due to its depiction of human rights violations taking place in the country, including forced organ harvesting. “ I think the arts is something that should always be allowed. It’s a representation of society’s best qualities, so to persecute any demographic group for just being artistic and creative is wrong.”
She added, “Nobody’s creativity should be limited by the government or anyone. It should be something that’s encouraged and allowed.” She also commended Shen Yun’s performers and urged them to “keep dancing” and to “keep the hope up.”
“Keeping your hope up and sharing your art with the world is amazing, so keep it up.”
‘Very exciting’
Joseph Levy, a technical trainer and educator who’s worked for IBM and Hewlett-Packard, said he attended Shen Yun after one of his students shared the show with him.
“With the political climate today, we don’t necessarily get what’s actually happening in the country or [get] a true history of different countries and different cultures,” said Levy. “So within my career, by teaching students from different countries, different cultures, it exposes me to a lot.”
Levy, who now works as an accounting professor and teaches students with disabilities, said that he commonly works with students from Russia and China, and that “ getting the opportunity to be exposed firsthand to Chinese culture is very exciting.”
He added, “ The performance was absolutely amazing — the costumes, the choreography, the lighting — everything was amazing how it was integrated. Also, the theatrics into the cinematography, it was a very good production.” Levy said he also particularly enjoyed the water sleeves and admired how the dancers were able to whirl the “thin sleeves and retract them with little effort.”
When asked what stood out to him the most, Levy said, “ As I was sitting there, I realized that the orchestra really brings you into the performance. I will come back again and sit in the orchestra level or maybe the first level. When you can feel the vibration of the steel drums and hear the strings of the violin, it’s an even more immersive experience.”
‘Masterful by no stretch of the imagination’
“This was one of the best performances that I have seen in many, many, many years in New York City,” said Diane Wheels, who attended Shen Yun’s performance on March 28 in Lincoln Center for the first time. “I am so happy and delighted that I came here to see this performance.”
Wheels, a retired federal officer, said she would “certainly” let all of her friends and family know that “this is a show that they should not miss.” When asked about what she enjoyed the most, she said, “I liked it all. I mean, every story that was told and every scene just had me gasping. It was just wonderful.”
“The dancers, they were excellent, each one of them. I give them a standard ovation. And the orchestra? I thought the music was so impactful as well.” She added, “The opera singers, the piano players, it was just a well put together performance.”
When asked what she would tell Shen Yun’s dancers, she said, “I would just tell them to keep doing what they’re doing because they’re doing a great job. And it’s masterful. It’s masterful by no stretch of the imagination.”
Shen Yun will perform at Lincoln Center through April 12. For more information, including tickets, seating, and availability, please visit the official website here.
With reporting by Kyle Li.
