CHICAGO—The current world tour of the Shen Yun Performing Arts will come to a grand conclusion this week with four shows in the most populous American Midwest city, Chicago. Although Shen Yun has returned to Chicago regularly the past few years, this is the first time the company performs at the Cadillac Palace Theater.
Heralding the performances is a stream of greeting letters and resolutions from Illinois officials.
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, in his greeting letter, refers to Shen Yun as “the world’s premier Chinese dance and music company.” He commends Shen Yun for giving “all citizens the chance to embrace traditional Chinese culture, and learn more about its history.”
Michael Madigan, Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, writes in his letter of greetings, “In bringing audiences honored traditional Chinese culture and celebrating the best of the human spirit, the Shen Yun Performing Arts is helping to open minds and bridge cultural differences.”
The Illinois House of Representatives has offered Shen Yun Performing Arts both a certificate of recognition and a house resolution. The former was initiated by Illinois State Representative Monique Davis, representative of the 27th district, and the latter by Illinois State Representative Michael J. Zalewski of the 21st District.
Toni Preckwinkle, president of the Board of Comissioners of Cook County in Illinois, says in her greeting letter, “I commend the Shen Yun Performing Arts for your gorgeous, breathtaking performances. And I laud Shen Yun Performing Arts for the deep sense of mission which informs your artistic work—the mission of restoring the jewels of traditional Chinese culture.”
U.S. Congressman Mike Quigley wrote in his letter, “Shen Yun Performing Arts features a wide variety of dancers, vocalists and instruments that combine to create one of the best experiences of traditional Chinese culture found here in the United States today.”
The Chicago City Council passed three resolutions on different dates honoring Shen Yun’s Chicago performances. The resolutions were initiated separately by Alderman Williams Burns, Alderwoman Lona Lane, and Alderwoman Emma Mitts.
Alderman Lona Lane has also written a greeting letter to express her deep appreciation for Shen Yun. Her letter says that she and her family members saw Shen Yun in Chicago last year, and that they were “amazed and dazzled by the beauty, energy, grace and enchantment of the costumes, extraordinary vocalists and live orchestra,” Alderwoman Lane wrote.
She concludes by saying, “I believe that the performing arts gives young people a purpose for living, revives cultural heritage and fosters high moral and cultural values. Shen Yun Performing Arts company does that and this is another reason why I welcome the four shows at the Cadillac Palace Theater.”
In addition, there are greeting letters from U.S. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky; Tom Cross, Illinois House Republican Leader; and Kwame Raoul, Illinois State Senator.
Based in New York, Shen Yun Performing Arts has a mission to revive China’s 5,000-year-old civilization through classical Chinese dance and music. Its three companies, each comprising around 100 world-class artists selected from different countries, tour worldwide each year to share China’s traditional culture with the world’s people, according to Shen Yun’s website.
Shen Yun’s current world tour is marked by numerous sold-outs shows in major cities around the world, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Taipei, Seoul, Paris, and Toronto.
Shen Yun will have four performances at Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theater from May 10 to May 12.
