SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun ‘Much Higher’ Than Just Entertainment, Says Executive

Jan 22, 2023
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Shen Yun ‘Much Higher’ Than Just Entertainment, Says Executive
Tracy Deans and his daughter, Emily, at the Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium, on Jan. 21, 2023. (NTD)
RALEIGH, N.C.—Tracy Deans, an IT executive with a financial company, says there’s something deep in Shen Yun Performing Arts that makes it more than just a beautiful dance performance.
“It adds an additional element that you see, this faith element coming through their dance,” said Mr. Deans, who saw Shen Yun with his daughter, Emily, at the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium on Jan. 21.

“You see it in their passion, you see it on their ... faces as they’re trying to express the dances. It means [there is] something deeper than just an expression of entertainment. It’s much higher than entertainment.”

Based in New York, Shen Yun, which presents classical Chines dance, is bringing to life China’s lost culture through beautiful art. One of the features of Shen Yun, as described on the company’s website, is that the artists are “spiritual seekers” who believe that “cultivating the heart is the way to create art that is beautifully sublime.”

The company was formed in 2006 by a group of Chinese artists “to revive authentic Chinese culture.”

Mr. Deans said Shen Yun helps the audience learn about China’s culture.

“It gives you a glimpse into culture that we just haven’t had exposure to before,” he said. “Without ... Shen Yun, I don’t know that people’s eyes would be open to some of the things that we’ve been experiencing tonight.”

Mr. Deans added that he was impressed by the many different aspects of Shen Yun. The company features a live orchestra, animated backdrops, and colorful costumes.

“So very unique, very beautiful, very aesthetic,” he said.

He added that he enjoyed the expression of emotions through the dances.

“Just super impressed at the [artistic director’s] ability to depict those things so that anybody of any ethnicity or any nationality could understand,” he said.

Emily, a high school student who also dances, said she was “wowed” by the performance.

“I feel wowed and just so amazed that I can see this. It’s just a really, really good experience,” she said.

‘Dancing With Your Soul’

Dr. Margarita Dzama and Dr. Jake Karels at the Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium, on Jan. 21, 2023. (Yawen Hung/The Epoch Times)
Dr. Margarita Dzama and Dr. Jake Karels at the Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium, on Jan. 21, 2023. (Yawen Hung/The Epoch Times)

Dr. Jake Karels, a medical doctor, enjoyed seeing the variety of story-based dances in Shen Yun.

“I thought it was fantastic,” he said.

His girlfriend, Dr. Margarita Dzama, also said Shen Yun is “fantastic.”

“I really like the combination of historical events with the different dances from different regions. That was really amazing,” she said. “And you can see how much work is put into this, wow. Above and beyond, truly.”

To Shen Yun artists, Dr. Dzama said, she'd like to say: “Thank you for dancing with your soul.”

Reporting by NTD and Yawen Hung.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.
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