SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun ‘Definitely Exceeded Our Expectations,’ Says California Theatergoer

Jan 16, 2026

1/16/2026Updated: 1/16/2026

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.—Ileana Dominguez, a realtor, brought her mother and daughter to Shen Yun Performing Arts’ matinee at the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts on Jan. 15.

Exiting the theatre at the end of the performance, she was happy to report that Shen Yun “definitely exceeded our expectations.”

“It was a beautiful show. Very elegant. We loved it. I love the storytelling. [It was educational,] which I loved … It was more than a show, it was a whole storyline history of what it represents. So, it was beautiful,” she said.

“I could see the passion of the dancers, their expressions. Every part was perfect. They all did an amazing job.”

Shen Yun is the world’s top classical Chinese dance and music company. Presenting a brand-new set of programs each year, the company has been delighting audiences around the world since 2006.

In the decades since the communist regime seized power, Chinese culture was forced to the brink of extinction. The New York-based artists are now seeking to revive China’s 5,000 years of divinely inspired culture and showcase to the world the beauty of China before communism.

Ms. Dominguez particularly enjoyed the story-based dance about a young girl. Constrained by the societal norms of her time, she was not allowed to study in the school with the boys. Determined to follow her own path, she disguised herself as a boy and snuck into school, forming beautiful friendships along the way.

“I love the comedy of it, it was very entertaining,” Ms. Dominguez shared. “Emotional moments can come, funny moments too. It was a great mix of everything.”

She was also pleasantly surprised by Shen Yun’s solo singers, who perform Chinese lyrics in traditional bel canto, conveying the depth of the human experience through song.

“Beautiful voices. That’s another thing I didn’t expect. I love the piano. So definitely hearing the piano with the soloist was beautiful.” Ms. Dominguez said.

“Amazing. There are no other words to explain it. I definitely will recommend [Shen Yun] to other people. It’s a great show. I was entertained the whole time.”

Ms. Dominguez welcomed the spiritual element of the performance and the traditional values shared by the artists. She thought Shen Yun’s mission and message were beautiful.

“Love supersedes everything. Love, kindness—that stood out to me, especially in today’s world,” she said.

“It’s definitely what’s needed, and people need to be reminded that the love and kindness—what you put out, comes back to you.”

Reporting by NTD and Jennifer Tseng.

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