SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Portland Audience Members Find Shen Yun ‘Spectacular’

Feb 12, 2024
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Portland Audience Members Find Shen Yun ‘Spectacular’
Carla and John Lojek attended Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Merrill Auditorium in Portland, Maine, on Feb. 10, 2024. (Weiyong Zhu/Epoch Times)

PORTLAND, Maine—Shen Yun Performing Arts performed at Merrill Auditorium in Portland on Feb 10.

As part of the receptive audience, John and Carla Lojek enjoyed the performance.

Mr. Lojek, a former commissioner of inspectional services for Newton City, Mass., said, “It’s spectacular, that’s what it really is.”

He was impressed with the talent. “I just think the breadth of their abilities. You know, there’s only so many performers and they have to perform so many things that it’s spectacular see them adapt and change, and the athleticism is outstanding,” he said.

He was happy to see stories of traditional China before communism. “It’s something that Americans don’t get exposed to much, which is a great thing to be exposed to the culture, the history, and the tradition of China. We have too many boogeymen in the world.”

The spiritual message came through the performance for Mr. Lojek. “Well, I didn’t expect it ... It’s wonderful.”

Through classical Chinese dance and music, Shen Yun is sharing with the world the beauty of China’s authentic 5,000 years of history. Since its founding in 2006, the company has received worldwide accolades for its mission to revive traditional Chinese culture.

Mrs. Lojek appreciated how the hosts explained the acts. “We appreciate the guidance from the announcers between each of the acts as well, because I am not familiar with the history.”

It’s very helpful for an American audience to get an explanation of what they’re performing and why they’re performing it,” Mr. Lojek said.

He encouraged others to see Shen Yun. “You can tell the amount of dedication and time they’ve put into this, which is wonderful to see, especially young people these days. I think if you have the ability to come, it’s a must-see.”

‘Absolutely Phenomenal’

The Baumann family attended Shen Yun and appreciated the divine message coming from traditional Chinese culture.

Michelle Baumann, a transmission line engineer and business owner, said: “I thought it was absolutely phenomenal—the artistic background of it, the dancers’ performances with the live orchestra, and telling the history of China before communism. It was just beautiful. Absolutely gorgeous. I highly recommend it.”

The Baumann family attended Shen Yun Performing Arts at Merill Auditorium in Portland, on Feb. 10, 2024. (Weiyong Zhu/The Epoch Times)
The Baumann family attended Shen Yun Performing Arts at Merill Auditorium in Portland, on Feb. 10, 2024. (Weiyong Zhu/The Epoch Times)

Ms. Baumann also appreciated the spiritual message of the performance. “I think the message was beautifully done: The way that they related China’s previous history for thousands of years into what’s going on today.

“I also love the message about every human being from the divine, and being so intricately related with their Creator. I think that’s a message that needs to be spread. So I’m so glad they did it in such a beautiful way. It was incredible,” she said.

Ms. Baumann said how important it is that the message gets out. “I think it’s everything. I think telling people that they’re beautifully created and that they come from such a divine creator, and the Creator puts that distinct purpose on them as human beings.”

She said that we all have a purpose in life and this is “able to empower them to really live out the life they were destined to live. I think that message is just what the world needs to hear.”

With shows scheduled in over 200 cities and across five continents, the 2024 touring season is shaping up to be the artists’ busiest yet.
Reporting by Weiyong Zhu and Yvonne Marcotte.
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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