SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Retired Professor Finds Shen Yun to Be Refreshing

Mar 11, 2026

3/11/2026Updated: 3/11/2026

COLUMBIA, S.C.—Harry Cooper, a retired attorney and college professor, saw Shen Yun Performing Arts on March 10 at the Koger Center for the Arts.

“Spectacular colors. Great story. I love the symbolism and the way the dancers expressed each aspect of it. It made me feel good as I watched them carry out 5,000 years of history, which is phenomenal, when you consider the United States has only been around for 250 years,” Mr. Cooper 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.

“5,000 years of history, laid out in a two-hour presentation in a marvelous fashion. The performers obviously love what they do, and it shows when they’re on the stage. You see the emotion in their presentation. You see the excitement in what they do. And they really tell a great story,” Mr. Cooper said.

Although Shen Yun is sharing the beauty of Chinese culture with the world, Shen Yun is unable to perform in China.

“The storytelling and the way they covered 5,000 years of history and Chinese culture, which is really the bedrock of China. That was refreshing,” Mr. Cooper said.

Shen Yun’s artists are trained in classical Chinese dance. And one dance that left a deep impression told the true story of Falun Dafa practitioners following the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. Despite their goodness, they are being persecuted for their faith in present-day China.

“For a group to get up and stand up for what they believe, that’s strength,” Mr. Cooper expressed.

“It makes me proud that they have a place that they can come to, like the United States, and they can express who they are and share their beliefs. Wherein their own home countries, that may not be possible. They’re persecuted for doing that. I think that’s the success of America.”

The Shen Yun Orchestra, which tours with Shen Yun, is a unique combination of traditional Chinese instruments and a classic Western ensemble.

“The music was great. I loved the music. The orchestra did a wonderful job watching the flow of the activity on the stage and keeping the tempo. That was remarkable. They would speed up or slow down depending on what was going on on the stage. I focused on the flute a lot—just beautiful,” Mr. Cooper said.

One instrument that shone under the spotlight was the two-stringed erhu.

“I didn’t realize that something like that could have so much emotion in it. And I loved the way they held the bow, a lot different than the way you hold the bow for a fiddle or a violin,” Mr. Cooper observed.

The artists in Shen Yun are spending the prime years of their lives doing what they love. Mr. Cooper feels that seeing these young people is refreshing.

“Without you being strong and bold and being convicted to what you believe, we have no hope. But with young people out there, being unashamed of who they are and what they’re about, that’s encouraging. That’s refreshing,” Mr. Cooper said.

Reporting by Yeawen Hung 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.