SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Birmingham Theatergoer Sees Virtues Portrayed in Shen Yun

Mar 02, 2026

3/2/2026Updated: 3/7/2026

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—Emily Roberson saw Shen Yun Performing Arts at BJCC Concert Hall on March 1.

“I loved it. It was so magical,” said Ms. Roberson, who works in utility industry sales research.

Shen Yun is based in New York, and dancers are trained in classical Chinese dance, one of the most comprehensive dance systems in the world.

“I really appreciate the high-level dancing and the talent of the performers as well. Especially as many of them could do flips and really cool acrobatic-type stuff,” Ms. Roberson said.

Ms. Roberson found parallels between the lessons she learned as a child and some of the history that Shen Yun portrayed.

“You could definitely tell that there were virtues that were being portrayed through dance. [I was] reminded of fables that I learned as a child—knowing the difference between good and bad and being able to choose good over bad.”

The Shen Yun Orchestra, which tours with Shen Yun, is a unique combination of traditional Chinese instruments and a classic Western ensemble.

“I love the music. I could feel it in my body. That was the best part, with it being live instruments. It definitely added to the storyline, being able to feel the music and follow the ups and downs as the story’s played out,” Ms. Roberson said.

Shen Yun’s use of its digital backdrop is patented. The versatility of the technology allows the set to change scenes in the blink of an eye, giving the stage endless possibilities.

“It was really amazing how they also incorporated the projection mapping,” Ms. Roberson observed.

Gina Bruncati and Allison Smith at the Shen Yun Performing Arts performance at BJCC Concert Hall on March 1, 2026. (Yeawen Hung) — Gina Bruncati and Allison Smith at the Shen Yun Performing Arts performance at BJCC Concert Hall on March 1, 2026. Yeawen Hung

Gina Bruncati, a retired administrative assistant, and Allison Smith, an administrative assistant, were also in the audience for this matinee performance.

“Just being able to see the different instruments just took me by storm. I was not anticipating how much I would love getting to see different types of music and different instruments that you don’t typically see,” Ms. Smith said.

Ms. Bruncati especially enjoyed the two-string erhu solo.

“That was beautiful. Just the sound of it—peaceful and just overcoming,” Ms. Bruncati said.

The costumes in Shen Yun were designed by Shen Yun’s artistic director, D.F. The costumes are all designed to match the fashion worn throughout the 5,000 years of Chinese civilization.

“The costumes were very colorful. I love how flowy they were. That was amazing. It’s almost like watching water and how it just drifts off the body,” Ms. Smith said.

Reporting by NTD, Yeawen Hung, and Maria Han.

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