BREMEN, Germany—“After a 12-year wait, my dream finally came true. It was incredibly moving, and I felt immense joy,” said former dancer Eva Zmijan after attending Shen Yun. “Their dances were so graceful, like fairies and angels. No words were needed—it was all there.”
As celestial scenes unfolded on stage, she found herself completely captivated. “The story about heaven was so exquisite—like a dream.”
Through classical Chinese, folk, and story-based dances, Shen Yun brings to life traditional values such as filial piety, kindness, truthfulness, and loyalty.
“It’s a beautiful way to engage with history,” Ms. Zmijan said of classical Chinese and ethnic dances. “It doesn’t need many words; everything is conveyed through expressive dance. It’s truly unforgettable.”
Having spent years in dance, Ms. Zmijan said the performance touched her deeply.
“Deep in my soul, I will always be a dancer,” she said. “When I watched these performers and their choreography, I understood all the challenges behind it. The live orchestra, the costumes—everything was in perfect harmony. It felt like a dream.”
“I would love to know how long they trained for this. It’s breathtakingly beautiful,” she added. “I want to express my utmost respect to all the dancers and musicians. It’s truly a masterpiece.”
Reflecting on the experience, she said, “It touches something deep in my soul. Sitting in the audience and seeing how profoundly it moves people—it was extraordinary. It’s far beyond television, films, or anything else.”
“This is what I’ve always dreamed of,” she said. “To see it all unfold is incredibly beautiful—to hear the music resonate within your soul, to feel your whole body tremble, and to be immersed in these historical stories. I express my deepest respect—please don’t stop, please continue.”
Shen Yun’s mission to revive 5,000 years of divinely inspired Chinese culture also resonated deeply with Ms. Zmijan’s personal beliefs.
“I believe a higher being truly exists, and we should have faith and pray. Shen Yun presented this so beautifully today—it’s beyond words,” she said. “Especially in today’s world, we need this kind of strength more than ever. I hope to see such beautiful stories about the divine every year. I’m deeply grateful.”
Her husband, Hanno Behrens, an electrical engineer, accompanied her to fulfill this long-awaited wish.
“This is my first time seeing it, and I really loved it. I will definitely recommend it to my family,” he said. “It’s a beautiful way to experience history—it doesn’t need many words. Everything is expressed through movement and dance. Truly captivating.”
In the final piece, which portrays the Creator descending to save humanity amid moral decline, Ms. Zmijan was deeply moved.
“It’s breathtakingly beautiful. I truly hope everyone can experience this and hold onto this hope,” she said. “It doesn’t matter what religion you follow—or if you are religious at all. What matters is taking action: to pray and believe in goodness. Shen Yun expresses this so magnificently—that beauty, light, and holiness can always overcome darkness. That’s exactly what I felt.”
Mr. Behrens shared similar sentiments. “I was deeply moved by the genuine emotion and energy of the dancers. The production itself was also incredibly impressive,” he said, adding that the dancers’ lightness represented “the highest level of artistic achievement.”
In closing, Ms. Zmijan said, “I will come back again and again—and next time, I will bring my daughter.” She also expressed hope that Shen Yun would one day perform in her hometown of Lübeck and said she plans to actively promote the show among her colleagues.
Once again, she expressed deep gratitude to Shen Yun’s artistic director. “I want to sincerely thank the artistic director for creating something so magnificent, for bringing Shen Yun to life. This gratitude comes from the bottom of my heart,” she said.
