SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Philadelphia Theatergoers Applaud Shen Yun’s Cultural Revival

May 09, 2025

5/9/2025Updated: 5/9/2025

PHILADELPHIA—Attorney Andrew Wisniewski found Shen Yun Performing Arts to be an “eye-opening” performance that brought to light things of great importance.

“I liked all the choreography, the performers were wonderful, I loved the solos,” he said after seeing Shen Yun at the Miller Theater on May 9. “I was exposed to instruments and music that I’ve never heard before, and I felt like I learned a lot about Chinese traditional culture as well.”

Based in New York, Shen Yun is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance company, with a mission to revive 5,000 years of Chinese civilization.

Mr. Wisniewski said this cultural revival was very important, as was Shen Yun’s way of shining a light on the ongoing religious persecution by the Chinese communist regime through the arts.

“I think it’s very important to raise awareness,” he said, adding that some of his biggest takeaways from the experience were “the importance of the traditional culture and to be aware of the persecution.”

Also enjoying Shen Yun on May 9 were Michael and Viola Koehler, who said they liked every aspect of the performance.

“I enjoy the music, the colors, the acrobatics, and the story. I like it all so far,” said Mr. Koehler, a project manager.

“Same: the music, the colors, beautiful. Absolutely beautiful,” Mrs. Koehler added.

The couple said the dance served a larger storyline, and it was “depicted beautifully,” Mr. Koehler said.

“I love it,” he said, adding that their seats, close to the stage, put them near the positive energy of the artists. “To be close, to feel it, you can feel the experience. The music, the show, it’s powerful. ... It makes you feel good part of the show. I love the backdrop. The 3D dimension is exceptional. It adds so much to the show, I think.”

Mr. Koehler said Shen Yun gave him “a new understanding” of this culture and its traditions. The stories left him with a positive message.

“I think it shows how you can overcome. You can deal with oppression, deal with adversity, and still come out on top,” he said.

Reporting by Frank Liang and Catherine Yang.

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