Berlin Police Officer Attends Shen Yun for the Third Time, Expresses Steadfast Support
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Matthias Hoffmann watched Shen Yun for the third time at the Deutsche Oper Berlin in Germany’s capital, Berlin, on Feb. 10, 2026. Wang Yixiao/The Epoch Times
BERLIN, Germany—“I am very enthusiastic about this performance. This is my third time attending this year. After the first two times, I was so impressed that I absolutely wanted to see it again,” said Senior Police Officer Matthias Hoffmann. “I will remain loyal to this event and will continue to attend in the future, because I truly like it very, very much.” After seeing Shen Yun three times, he added, “You can really say that I’m a fan.”
On Feb. 10, 2026, Mr. Hoffmann, a Senior Police Officer (Polizeioberkommissar) with Berlin’s criminal police, attended Shen Yun’s performance at the Deutsche Oper Berlin.
He praised the production at every level. “The dancers are first-class, the beautiful colors, the beautiful garments and costumes, and also the story that is told—I find it all excellent,” he said.
What he found particularly important was that the performance also addressed present-day issues in China. “I personally believe this is important. By attending—by supporting those Chinese who are persecuted or Chinese culture that is suppressed. That was personally important to me.”
He also voiced admiration for the artists’ courage in the face of reported interference. “I read that the [Shen Yun] tour bus once had its tires slashed. One should not let oneself be intimidated by that,” he said. “As I said, not to be intimidated, but still to attend such an event—simply to show the Party in China that one does not approve of what is being done.”
Mr. Hoffmann emphasized that presenting these issues through art raises awareness among more people. As someone who is deeply concerned with social issues, he is well aware of human rights abuses in China.
“That’s why I’m glad this topic is being presented again here for those who might not otherwise engage with it,” he said. “I find this mixture of art, culture, and politics very good.”
The story dance Mr. Hoffman referred to raises awareness of the Chinese communist regime’s ongoing persecution ofFalun Dafa, a peaceful meditation practice whose followers strive to live by the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance.
At the same time, Shen Yun’s portrayal of traditional Chinese culture resonated deeply with him. He shared that he has long been interested in Asian culture and ancient thought.
“I am interested in ancient philosophy as well. For example, I am interested in Confucius, ” he said. “It’s well known that Chinese culture was already very advanced at that time. The Chinese invented porcelain, while Germany did so much later. I know that Chinese culture was extremely advanced back then. That is the beautiful side of China. Now, however, one tends to see more of the less beautiful side.”
As someone serving in law enforcement, Mr. Hoffmann was asked about the portrayal of communist police persecuting good people. His reaction was immediate: “Unimaginable.” He reiterated that bringing such realities to the stage serves an important purpose: “To show the problems that exist there to those who may not otherwise concern themselves with it—I find that very important.”
Although he does not consider himself religious, Hoffmann said he appreciates the deeper themes conveyed in the performance. “I find the message behind it very interesting,” he remarked. “For example, the striving for wisdom, and when the song mentioned tradition and goodness—these are very important themes, and areas that interest me and that I consider important.”
He also offered high praise for the artistic direction and the ensemble as a whole. “Better is not possible. It is really at a very high level. There is nothing better—everything is simply perfect,” he said.
Deeply impressed, he concluded on a personal note: “I am highly enthusiastic. If I were younger and living in New York, I would probably enroll in such a course or in that dance school myself. It is simply a joy to watch. They travel the world, and this combination makes the profession of an artist, I believe, a dream job.”
