SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Former Marine Pleasantly Surprised by Shen Yun’s Focus on Traditional Values

Apr 11, 2024
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Former Marine Pleasantly Surprised by Shen Yun’s Focus on Traditional Values
Dr. Robert Bibeau enjoyed Shen Yun's evening performance at the Popejoy Hall on April 10, 2024. (Jane Yang/The Epoch Times)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.—Robert Bibeau, an acupuncturist and former Marine, shared his admiration for Shen Yun after attending its evening performance at Popejoy Hall on April 10. He described the experience as “magnificent.”

“I really love what we’re seeing. I didn’t realize when we got the tickets, the underlying nature of the show. It’s divine inspiration and a focus on traditional values—that’s something that I’ve been really pleasantly surprised by,” he said.

Based in New York, Shen Yun Performing Arts was founded in 2006 by a group of leading Chinese artists determined to revive China’s 5000 years of culture back to its pre-communist glory.

Reflecting on Shen Yun’s mission to bring back traditional values and raise awareness for the ongoing human rights violations in present-day China, Mr. Bibeau said he “very much liked the idea of being able to demonstrate how tyranny can affect us, impact our lives and take our love from us, our passion for life.”

“That was powerful.”

Though the company has received worldwide recognition for its efforts, Shen Yun is currently banned by the Chinese Communist Party from performing in China.

“I think the story that most profoundly impacted me is the [dance] that took place in modern times. We see the brother and sister growing up, and we see the loss of life of the sister—it’s just such a tragedy,” Mr. Bibeau added.

“The idea that these kinds of things are occurring worldwide is a good thing for our younger generations to be aware of so they understand how to combat it and never let it happen again.”Mr. Bibeau, who fought and was injured in Iraq, understands firsthand “the struggle for the defense of liberty.”

“One of the things that I’m grateful for is that the members of Shen Yun, those that were oppressed in China, can still have the United States to come to—to preserve their belief.”
Francis Phillips (L) and Tamar Searlese at Shen Yun's evening show at the Popejoy Hall on April 10, 2024. (Sonia Wu/The Epoch Times)
Francis Phillips (L) and Tamar Searlese at Shen Yun's evening show at the Popejoy Hall on April 10, 2024. (Sonia Wu/The Epoch Times)

Also enjoying the show was Francis Phillips, a civil engineering designer. He thought the show was “very colorful and very entertaining.”

“The cultural aspect of [China] is a bit different from what I’ve experienced,” Mr. Phillips expressed.

“So, it’s quite interesting to see how different parts of the world view certain aspects regarding religion, government, and lifestyle.”

Though this was his first time seeing the show, he was deeply moved by the artists’ determination to bring back traditional values.

Through Shen Yun, Mr. Phillip saw “a civilization and a people that have pride in their culture.”

Reporting by Jane Yang, Sonia Wu, and Jennifer Tseng.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.
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