SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Nuclear Engineer, Who Has Wanted to See Shen Yun Since 2006, Is Really Impressed

Dec 31, 2025

12/31/2025Updated: 12/31/2025

SAVANNAH, Ga.—Matt Wisler, a nuclear engineer, has wanted to see Shen Yun Performing Arts since the company’s establishment 20 years ago. On the penultimate day of 2025, he and his wife, Miriam Wisler, were finally able to make this wish come true.

“I’m just really impressed with the whole story, the dance, and the storytelling,” Mr. Wisler said.

Shen Yun, based in New York, is on a mission to present “China before communism,” and revive people’s connection with 5,000 years of Chinese civilization and culture.

“I think if more young people could see more of the tradition and values that everyone worldwide had, we may be doing a little bit better,” expressed Ms. Wisler, who is a costume designer.

The costumes in Shen Yun are designed to be historically appropriate to each dynasty and are believed by the Chinese to mimic the attire worn in the heavens.

“I appreciate the attention to detail. I was wondering how they got those little things to stay on their heads,” Ms. Wisler said.

From Manchurian “flower pot shoes” to Han Chinese clothing, the Shen Yun website contains more information on all of Shen Yun’s costumes.

“It was very vibrant. So when you’re in a theater like this, a lot of times, the detail is not good, or the fitting is not good. So, [Shen Yun] is very vibrant, the details and all of the embroidery, it’s fabulous,” Ms. Wisler said.

Shen Yun’s artists are trained in classical Chinese dance, one of the most comprehensive dance systems in the world.

“I think the technical aspect of the performance is very impressive. I appreciate that they stuck to the traditional type of dances rather than making it more new, instead of updating it,” Ms. Wisler said.

Shen Yun’s website states that classical Chinese dance training includes three main components—technical skill, form, and bearing, which is one of the many ways that classical Chinese dance is different from ballet.

“I think people underestimate the amount of sacrifice that has to go into a production like this and to be able to perform at the level that the performers here actually execute, it’s impressive. I think more people should learn how to dedicate themselves and apply themselves to something like that,” Mr. Wisler shared.

Reporting by Sally Sun and Maria Han.

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