SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Colorado Sheriff Praises Shen Yun: ‘A Whole Package of Grace, Story, and Meaning’

Apr 12, 2026

4/12/2026Updated: 4/12/2026

DENVER—On the evening of April 10, Shen Yun North America Company presented its third local performance of the season at The Buell Theatre in Denver to a full house. The atmosphere was warm and vibrant, with laughter and applause echoing throughout the theater.

“We absolutely loved Shen Yun! We came here tonight especially to see the performance,” Larimer County Sheriff John Feyen said. “We’ve been wanting to come for over a year, and we’re so glad we finally made it. It was amazing. Thank you!”

Mr. Feyen, who oversees public safety in Larimer County north of Denver, attended the performance with his wife, Mrs. Cheryl Feyen, a paramedic. Both spoke highly of Shen Yun, describing it as a visually stunning and emotionally engaging artistic presentation.

“The grace, the costumes, and those long, flowing sleeves all come together to create a visually dramatic effect,” Mr. Feyen said. “It’s very moving.”

Mrs. Feyen shared her enthusiasm: “I love the show—it’s awesome. I especially liked the Mongolian dance—the colors, the movements, and the story behind it were captivating.”

Shen Yun’s live orchestra—renowned for its innovative fusion of Eastern and Western instruments—left a strong impression on Mr. Feyen. He praised the high caliber of all the performers. “The music is excellent—the tenor was amazing, the pianist was very good, and the orchestra overall was superb,” he said.

Beyond its artistic excellence, Shen Yun’s storytelling left a deep impression on Mr. Feyen. The performance includes scenes depicting the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China—something he said was thought-provoking.

“That actually surprised me,” he said. “It made me want to learn more about the story behind it. I found it fascinating.”

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual discipline and meditation practice with moral teachings based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. It rapidly gained popularity in China during the 1990s. However, the Chinese Communist Party, unable to accept any group having more influence than itself, in 1999, began persecuting Falun Dafa practitioners in 1999.

Mr. Feyen emphasized the importance of raising awareness about such issues. “It’s very important,” he said. “When persecution happens, the way to end it is through knowledge and education—by helping more people understand and encouraging them to stand up against it. So I think it’s very good to hear that message.”

Shen Yun’s mission to revive traditional Chinese culture and its spiritual themes also resonated with Mr. Feyen. Although he noted he was not deeply familiar with Chinese religions, the performance prompted meaningful reflection.

“I was thinking about how we all come from a Creator,” he said. “It made me realize that there are many similarities between us.”

He added that the spiritual message conveyed in the performance is highly relevant today. “I think spirituality is a foundation of many people’s lives, and it’s not communicated often enough. So I think it’s a very important part of the message.”

Summing up the message he took from the performance, Mr. Feyen said: “We all come from a divine being, and we all have a spiritual element within us. There’s more in common between us than there is different.”

He noted that this message resonates deeply with his own work. “In my view, that’s a cornerstone of what I do—it’s extremely important.”

Mr. Feyen said he would readily recommend Shen Yun to others. “I would tell them it’s the grace, the choreography, and the message—it’s a whole package.”

As Shen Yun marks its 20th anniversary, he also expressed appreciation to the artists. “I’d really love to hear their stories,” he said. “Thank you for coming here, sharing your message, and helping us better understand what you’re presenting.”

Based in New York, Shen Yun is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company, with a mission to revive traditional Chinese culture. Since its founding in 2006, the company has presented an entirely new program each year, captivating audiences around the world.

Reporting by Nancy Ma and Olivia Li.

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