SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

‘Incredible,’ Audience Member Says of Shen Yun

Feb 21, 2026

2/21/2026Updated: 2/22/2026

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—Six decades have passed since China’s communist regime shattered 5,000 years of ancient beliefs during the Cultural Revolution. Today, a courageous few are striving to revive the culture that was “almost lost,” and New York-based dance company Shen Yun Performing Arts is leading the charge.

Touring the world for the past 20 years, the group’s dozens of dancers, live orchestra, hosts, and visual effects crew put on a show this afternoon at the Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. North Carolinians have been enjoying Shen Yun’s classical Chinese dance presentations for over a decade now, and theatergoers like Devin Lorsson found the performance celebrating “China before communism” to be “incredible.”

“So few of us know about this part of Chinese history, and we only identify China with its current regime,“ Lorsson told The Epoch Times after the show. ”The history of it, it’s lost in the current events. But this brings [China before communism] to life.”

In its effort to stir a cultural renaissance, Shen Yun’s artists have painstakingly researched ancient motifs and clothing, as seen in manuscripts showing the attire of a culture that believed it was a gift from the divine. Its dancers train in a style known as classical Chinese dance, which was derived from ancient martial artists who once performed leaps and turns for lords and ladies in the palace.

Lorsson, who works in the finance sector, was most impressed by the dancers’ athleticism. “I’ve never seen people move like that. I feel uncomfortable watching it—I think they’re gonna hurt themselves,” he said jokingly. “That’s incredible to see.”

And behind the scenes, a tech team makes Shen Yun’s much-loved pyrotechnics possible. The show opens with smoke billowing off the stage as the audience is immersed in a cloud-bedecked heavenly scene. The Creator and celestial beings appear in a state-of-the-art animated 3D backdrop that interacts with dancers onstage.

Sometimes, mythical characters from Chinese legends, such as the Monkey King, appear to launch off the stage only to suddenly appear, flying magically in a projected panorama.

Mike Stelzer, a retired CEO, saw these sights and called it “an overwhelming rush of color” every time the curtain goes up. “I love the beauty of some of the pictures, the backgrounds,” he said. “I love the techniques of them jumping out of the screen, that’s just awesome.”

Looking at the culture that Shen Yun celebrates on stage, Stelzer pointed to a sense of spirituality that subsumes every facet of the show. “It has a spiritual flavor to it,” he said. “It’s an interesting culture that I don’t really understand very well, but I enjoy it. I find it very rewarding to watch.”

This content exists probably because traditional Chinese culture is believed to have been inspired by the Buddhist, Daoist, and Confucian philosophies.

Many of Shen Yun’s artists also follow the faith of Falun Gong, which teaches truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance, and faces persecution by the communist regime in China. The performers are open about this fact and even inform the audience that Shen Yun is not allowed to dance in China.

Frank and Deidre Pixley attend Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Belk Theater, Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, in Charlotte, N.C., on Feb. 21, 2026. (Maggie Xie/The Epoch Times) — Frank and Deidre Pixley attend Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Belk Theater, Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, in Charlotte, N.C., on Feb. 21, 2026. Maggie Xie/The Epoch Times

One dance segment displays the human rights abuses in modern-day China, wherein a Falun Gong believer is abused and blinded for his faith by communist officials. He is then healed by divine intervention.

“I think dance and music is a great way to present it,“ Deidre Pixley, a flight attendant who saw Shen Yun on Saturday, said. ”I just thought it was beautiful. I like the history and the dancing. The costumes were beautiful.”

Mrs. Pixley’s husband, Frank Pixley, said he felt “a little sad” that part of the culture has been lost. He added, “Maybe, [we can] hope one day it comes back.”

Reporting by Frank Liang, Maggie Xie, Henry, and Michael Wing.

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