Interviews by Ryan Wu
NEWARK, New Jersey — On May 2, audience members attending Shen Yun Performing Arts’ performance at the prestigious New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) described the experience as visually stunning, emotionally moving, and unlike anything they had seen before.
Founded in 2006, Shen Yun is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company, showcasing the beauty and splendor of traditional Chinese culture and art prior to the ravages of communism. The New York-based company currently boasts eight equally sized troupes that tour and perform across the world simultaneously, putting on a brand new production each year.
RELATED: ‘Speaks to Everyone’: Shen Yun Draws Praise From Theatergoers in Worcester, MA
‘Touches the heart’
For Olga Alroud, a financial manager, the performance resonated on a deep emotional level. “It’s beautiful. It’s really so beautiful with all the colors and performance… how unique and how well trained,” she said. Alroud said she was especially moved by the unity and synchronization of the dancers. “It feels like it’s a one body dancer showing me, telling the story,” she said.
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Alroud also described the performance as something that goes beyond visual spectacle and into something deeper. “I feel like everything kind of touched my soul, touched the heart,” she said. “It’s a combination of music, beautiful colors, beautiful movement… it somehow touches the heart, like deeply inside.”
She added that the artistry and dedication behind the performance were clearly evident. “I feel like it was a lot of dedication and a lot of effort put into it,” she said. “That’s why maybe it’s that deep.” Like others in attendance, she said she would recommend the show to family and friends and hopes to return in the future. “Absolutely, yeah,” she said. “And I hope I will come back again.”
‘So colorful’
For Avinash, a software developer who had also seen the show last year, the performance continued to impress. “I really enjoyed it last time and this time as well,” he said, adding, “It was so colorful, and the storytelling is so good with all the performances.”
When asked if anything stood out to him the most, Avinash pointed to the seamless integration between the performers and the digital backdrop as a standout feature. “On the screen, they walk out in their space together, and it’s really good,” he said.
Shen Yun’s signature use of a high-tech integrative, digital backdrop brings scenes from different dynasties, celestial realms, and ethnic regions to life. The show is also guided by two emcees who explain each segment in both English and Chinese, making each storyline more accessible to a wider audience.
Avinash also reflected on the broader message of the performance, particularly its absence from stages in China. “It feels bad about that, because it’s been restricted for the people and it’s not good for them,” he said. “The skill has to be shown to everyone.” Like many in attendance, he said he would return again. “I’m very much interested,” he added.
‘Beautiful performance’
For first-time attendee Joaz Catana, a civil engineer who attended the show with six family members, the performance offered a powerful introduction to Chinese culture and history. “The thing that I love the most is how they open up with the culture — they let us see your culture, how you dance, [and tell] stories,” he said. “The live music, the lights, the colors… it’s beautiful, a beautiful performance.”
He was particularly struck by the dancers’ athleticism and grace. “I keep telling my wife when they jump… they stay in the air like they’re floating. Yeah, amazing,” he said. When asked to describe the performance in just a few words, Catana kept it simple. “Art… when you love art, this is the place.”
He also expressed a desire to share the experience with others. “Definitely, definitely,” he said. “I want to bring all my family members next year so we can see the show.”
Aside from showcasing stunning choreography, acrobatics, and a live orchestra that combines traditional Western and classical Chinese instruments, Shen Yun’s performances depict legends and historical stories from ancient China as well as modern tales of bravery and oppression taking place in China today.
‘Just wonderful’
Another audience member, engineer Mahmoud Sbaih, said he intentionally came into the performance with few expectations, choosing instead to be surprised. “I saw the ads… and I didn’t want to search it [beforehand]. I wanted to be surprised,” he said.
What he encountered exceeded those expectations. “The dancing is wonderful, colorful and meaningful… it’s like candy to the eye, to be honest,” he told reporters, adding, “The music was amazing. The dance, the energy, the storytelling — all of it was just wonderful.”
Sbaih also praised the precision and coordination of the performance. “Everything fits so well, 100 percent,” he said. “All the movements and the music… everything is very tight.”
When asked if he had any favorite aspects of the performance, Sbaih noted the innovative use of digital backdrops, describing moments that felt almost surreal. “The technology… they embedded the background screen, very, very beautifully. It can be considered magic at some points,” he said.
Summing up his experience, Sbaih described the performance as “elegance, beautiful and perfect.”
Across the audience, a common theme emerged: Shen Yun’s ability to combine technical excellence with emotional depth resonated deeply with theatergoers in New Jersey. Through classical Chinese dance, live orchestral music, and storytelling rooted in tradition, the performance offered an experience that resonated with viewers from all different backgrounds and walks of life.
For more information on Shen Yun Performing Arts, including FAQs and ticketing information, please visit the official website.
