SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Couple Enjoys China’s History and Tradition That Shen Yun Brings to the World

Apr 19, 2026

4/19/2026Updated: 4/19/2026

PHILADELPHIA—Anticipation filled the Miller Theater as the curtain rose on Shen Yun Performing Arts on April 18. Bryan Perrera and his fiancée, Christine Rodriguez, loved the history and traditions of Chinese culture.

Ms. Rodriguez enjoyed the dance “Water Sleeves” as the elegant court ladies gracefully moved, pulling and popping out their colorful sleeves. She also liked “The Origins of the Monkey King.”

“You learn about the culture,” she said. “I also like the folklore ... that goes along with it. It brings a little more fun into it.”

Mr. Perrera, an assistant vice president in risk management banking, also liked the humor in the dance.

Shen Yun’s mission is to revive the rich traditional culture from “China before communism.” Ms. Rodriguez appreciated Shen Yun’s effort. “They’re trying to keep it, which is important.”

“I think it’s a little bit more than we expected,” she said. “We’ve seen the commercials for several years and never had the opportunity to come. This year, we got to go and enjoy. Now I see why there’s such a vast crowd of people watching and enjoying it.”

The Perreras said they would recommend Shen Yun to others. “I would tell them that it’s a cultural, artful experience that I think anyone should watch and learn. You’re not getting a history lesson, you’re definitely getting a glimpse into what life was [like in China] and their beliefs, traditions, and values, which is very interesting,” Ms. Rodriguez said.

Mr. Perrera said Shen Yun “is an immersive mix of culture and dance.”

Attorney Says Shen Yun Fills the Stage with Beauty

Mike and Anna Urban Gellman enjoyed the beauty of traditional Chinese culture from before communism.

Mr. Gellman, a scientist and lab manager, said, “I thought it was fantastic—just the themes and the story lines. The costumes are really pretty. The dancing is spectacular. Everything was wonderful.”

He especially liked the Men’s Mongolian Dance. “I just thought that the dancers were really athletic, and I liked the acrobatics that they were doing.”

Mrs. Gellman, an attorney and senior director, appreciated the story of Chinese culture presented on the stage. She said Shen Yun “is like a very, very colorful symphony with the harmony of the dances.”

She liked “Water Sleeves” because “it really fills up the stage with the aesthetics.” She noted that the dancers are limited in what props they can take while on tour. Shen Yun’s innovative use of technology brings that to the performance, with “a little bit of magic,” she said, adding, “I think China has that magic element in people’s minds.”

Chinese culture is filled with spiritual lessons and values that Shen Yun brings to audiences. Unfortunately, Shen Yun is banned in China as it presents the true stories of the persecution of people of faith, like Falun Gong practitioners in China.

Mrs. Gellman said, “I have watched the YouTube videos about the conflict that you have with the Chinese government about the religious and spiritual aspects of it. I grew up in communism, so I relate to resisting the government when they are trying to suppress religion. That’s very familiar to me.

“At the same time, I’m addicted to Chinese dramas, so it’s a familiar territory for me as well. I think the spiritual [message] is just to explore who you are and don’t let the government restrict what you believe in, no matter what that is,” she said.

Reporting by Frank Liang, Lily Sun, and Yvonne Marcotte.

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