Classical Chinese Dancers of Shen Yun Inspire Theatergoers With ‘China Before Communism’ in Philly
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Brian Humble attends Shen Yun Performing Arts with his wife, Courtney Humble, at the Miller Theatre in Philadelphia on April 17, 2026. Lily Sun/The Epoch Times
PHILADELPHIA—In the 77 years since communism took power in China, the cultural identity of the Chinese people has been nearly erased. The Golden Rule—do unto others as you would have them do unto you—was replaced with blaming others for your problems and fighting against heaven.
But on Friday, Brian Humble, a lawyer who watched Shen Yun Performing Arts onstage at the Miller Theater in Philadelphia, said after the performance, he saw “their cultural identity survived.”
It still lives in and was expressed by the dancers onstage. Through ancient tales, they signaled for the audience to help others, remember the divine, and be kind.
“I would say [it’s] a masterful performance of arts with incredible traditional music and amazing storytelling,” Mr. Humble said. “The stories were great. Great moral stories that we could learn from today.”
Now 20 years old, Shen Yun has a mission of reviving an ancient culture that was “almost lost” during the communists’ destructive Cultural Revolution, presenting “China before communism.” While religions were nearly destroyed, Shen Yun elevates spirituality to its traditional place in Chinese history.
Mr. Humble said he believes in what the artists are doing by emphasizing “the love of God over advancement of technology.” Then he added, “China’s still sort of fighting for is their identity.”
Kelly Marshallsea (R) and Brian Morengo watched Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Miller Theater, Philadelphia, on April 17, 2026. Lily Sun/The Epoch Times
Sitting in the same theater, Kelly Marshallsea, who works at an assisted living facility, said Shen Yun’s messages resonated with her as well.
While Shen Yun mainly focuses on visually impressive storytelling—with dozens of dancers in spectacular costumes and a full live orchestra that blends Chinese and Western instruments—the program also portrays modern China. One scene shows communist officials abusing a Falun Gong practitioner, illustrating what the artists say is still happening in China today.
“It opens our eyes to so many other things that’s going on,” Ms. Marshallsea said. “The meaning behind some of the shows, the scenes, you could really feel the impact of what they’re trying to convey.”
The characters in Shen Yun, whether modern or ancient, are usually all connected in some way with morals or divine beings. Their simple gestures, expressed wordlessly through classical Chinese dance, show people being kind and helping each other. Some characters express humor, such as the mischievous Monkey King, or bravery, such as the believer who upheld his faith in the face of persecution.
Divinity shines above it all, however. Indeed, the show opens with the Creator from heaven arriving for the beginning of China’s 5,000-year history, aided by an array of divine beings.
Shen Yun is about “reaping what you sow and doing unto others as you’ve had them do unto you,” Ms. Marshallsea said. “Things are unfortunate [in today’s China], but they'll get better again when God returns.”
