Shen Yun Highlights the Importance of Faith, a Message That Inspires Polish Elites
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On the afternoon and evening of Jan. 10, 2026, the Shen Yun Touring Company gave its second and third performances of the year at the Grand Theatre in Łódź. Tickets for both shows were sold out in advance. Zhang Qingyao/The Epoch Times
ŁÓDŹ, Poland—On the afternoon and evening of Jan. 10, 2026, the Shen Yun Touring Company gave its second and third performances of the year at the Grand Theatre in Łódź. Tickets for both shows were sold out in advance. Many audience members traveled from Poland’s capital Warsaw to attend. Everyone agreed that “it was absolutely worth coming” and expressed sincere hope that Shen Yun would perform in Warsaw someday.
When the curtain rose and a heavenly scene appeared above auspicious clouds, the audience immediately responded with wave after wave of applause. When heroic young dancers displayed their extraordinary skills, the applause grew even louder. Throughout each performance, the audience instinctively found moments to applaud, and at the conclusion of each piece, thunderous applause erupted. Shen Yun artists returned to the stage for three curtain calls.
A particularly moving moment occurred during the scene depicting the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners by the Chinese Communist Party. The theatre hall fell completely silent, and the audience’s faces reflected solemnity. When the Creator healed a person of steadfast faith and the banner reading “Falun Dafa is Good” was unfurled again, the entire audience erupted into enthusiastic applause. Some audience members quietly wiped away tears. At that moment, the connection between the performers on stage and the audience was deeply palpable and moving.
Interest in purchasing Falun Dafa books also remained high. Many audience members headed straight for Zhuan Falun upon arriving at the theater. After briefly leafing through it, they were reluctant to put it down and decided to purchase it. Staff reported that Polish people have a strong affinity for Falun Dafa books. During previous Shen Yun seasons and this season, over 770 copies in total were sold at theaters in Poland.
Shen Yun Inspires Through Its Spiritual Message
On the afternoon of Jan. 10, 2026, Mr. Krzysztof Piątkowski and his wife, Ms. Bogumiła Piątkowska, attended a Shen Yun performance at the Grand Theatre in Łódź. Wang Yixiao/The Epoch Times
“This is our first encounter with this culture, this type of performance. It surprises us greatly,” said Ms. Bogumiła Piątkowska emotionally after watching Shen Yun. She added, “It’s an encounter with nature, with history. We need to know this history to truly understand how the artists present all of this.”
“The [animated] background for the dances is wonderful and very enchanting. The music captivates us… We admire the skill of these young artists, the gymnastics—it’s ballet, incredible strength, and fortitude. … It’s simply a beautiful performance,” she praised.
Her husband, Mr. Krzysztof Piątkowski, added: “I fully share my wife’s opinion. A wonderful performance, a magnificent show. Very impressive. Full of color, full professionalism. Excellent.”
Ms. Bogumiła Piątkowska was deeply moved by the performance: “I’m simply enchanted. Above all, I see the commitment of these young people. I see that they love what they do. That amazes me, it surprises me, enchants me, and touches me deeply in my heart and mind.”
“Each dance has something enchanting in its own way. The men impress with strength and fortitude, while the women show delicacy, sensitivity, charm, and finesse. … It’s simply incredible and beautiful,” she said.
She also reflected on the deeper meaning and spiritual message of the performance: “I think it’s this spirituality, this delicacy and sensitivity that touches us. Above all, the nature in the background of the performance also resonates with people. We really come from nature. We need contact with nature, and today’s world is so rushed. … Returning to nature is our cradle, and from it, we draw strength, love, and peace, which humanity truly needs. This is our strength as human beings.”
She added, “I think the reference to religion, to God, is very important in Shen Yun, because today the world has forgotten about it. The world moves forward, and in the course of civilization, we’ve forgotten what is truly important, the spiritual needs of people.”
“This [spirituality] gives us strength and inner peace. Something we can later pass on to our children, family, and friends. If we lose ourselves in all of this civilization, we really lose our way. That’s not heading in a good direction. Nature is our strength. God and the things that are close, peaceful, and warm surround us,” she said.
Mr. Krzysztof Piątkowski said he would wholeheartedly recommend the show to friends: “I invite you. Truly a wonderful concert. Come in large numbers, watch it, it’s amazing, a marvelous spectacle.”
A Spiritually Uplifting Experience: ‘Beauty and Kindness Come from God’
On the afternoon of Jan. 10, 2026, Mr. Wojciech Jankowski and his wife, Ms. Joanna Jankowska, attended a Shen Yun performance at the Grand Theatre in Łódź. Wang Yixiao/The Epoch Times
“We really enjoyed it. We’ve never seen anything like this before. Very pleasant,” said Mr. Wojciech Jankowski after the show.
His wife, Ms. Joanna Jankowska, added: “We are very impressed. It was the first time we had the chance to see such a performance, and it made a huge impression on us.”
Mr. Jankowski particularly appreciated the deeply meaningful Shen Yun dance pieces: “I liked these different stories—about good prevailing over evil.” Ms. Jankowska agreed, noting that one of Shen Yun’s main messages is that “good prevails.”
They were also impressed by the depth of the vocal performances. “[The songs were] drawing attention to the Creator, to God, that everything comes from God, and this beauty, this kindness comes from God. And therein lies hope,” Ms. Jankowska said.
She also appreciated the artistic beauty of classical Chinese dance: “The colorful dances, especially by the women, the beautiful sleeve dances. Incredible.” Mr. Jankowski added, “It was unbelievable. The flips, the turns. I don’t know what they’re called, but those spins the dancers performed were very, very impressive.”
Shen Yun’s presentation of traditional culture and its demonstration of goodness and beauty deeply moved Ms. Jankowska: “I believe that tradition is very important, and it’s important to nurture tradition, to show it, to pass it on to future generations.” Mr. Jankowski agreed, “Especially since in China, this is a several-thousand-year-old tradition, so it’s definitely worth getting to know.”
The fact that such a beautiful performance cannot be shown in China saddened the couple: “I was surprised, because I thought the show was from China. Only here did I learn it’s from New York,” said Mr. Jankowski.
Ms. Jankowska said, “Well, that’s painful. I already knew that, unfortunately, it is banned in China.” She said she had previously heard of the persecution of people by the Chinese Communist Party, including Christians and Falun Gong practitioners, and believes that revealing the truth about it is “absolutely necessary.”
The couple traveled specifically from Warsaw to see Shen Yun. They agreed it was worth the trip. They said they would definitely recommend Shen Yun to friends and family. “They must see it at least once in their lifetime,” said Ms. Jankowska.
‘These Are Timeless Principles That Should Accompany Every Person’
On the afternoon of Jan. 10, 2026, the Shen Yun Touring Company gave its second performance of the year at the Grand Theatre in Łódź. Mr. Mariusz Sejdak attended the show with his wife, Ms. Wioletta Sejdak. Huang He/The Epoch Times
“We are delighted with Chinese culture [and] we fully understand the hidden message [of the show]: to convey to people around the world that the true Chinese tradition and the strength of the Chinese people will never die. It is great, passed down from generation to generation, and we cannot be deaf or blind to what is happening in China today,” said Mr. Sejdak after watching Shen Yun.
Ms. Wioletta Sejdak expressed gratitude for the opportunity to experience such wonderful art: “All the dances you present make a great impression on me—this is my first experience with your culture. For the first time, I have the pleasure of watching such amazing artists and enjoying such wonderful ballet. I am amazed by the dancers’ skills.”
For Ms. Wioletta Sejdak, every aspect of Shen Yun was inspiring: “Yes, of course [I like the music]. The colorful, vibrant presentation appeals to me very much … [The stage design is] exceptional, magical,” she said.
She added: “I felt very positive energy from the stage, from the dances being shown. The respect shown to the audience, the attention to detail, the beauty, the mutual respect for every person.”
Mr. Sejdak agreed with everything his wife said and emphasized that Shen Yun’s artistry is flawless, while its message resonates deeply with him: “We have encountered many world cultures. Indeed, with Chinese culture, it is distinguished by its incredible color and incredible strength of expression, especially in the choreography. Wonderful dance and the message of strength, faith, and peace for people.”
Sejdak said that the team’s message about the importance of the values of truth, kindness, and patience serves as an inspiration for him: “These are timeless principles [truth, kindness, patience], truths, and rules that should accompany every person. Truth, patience, love, and respect for others. These are the foundations on which we should build our shared future, not only in China but throughout the world.”
He further emphasized the importance of Shen Yun’s mission in today’s world: “Cultivating culture is very important for the modern world. We cannot forget who we are, what our roots are, and what knowledge our mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers passed down. I think without such tradition, history, and culture, we would mean very little and would have little opportunity to create a future on sound foundations.”
Reporting by Wang Yixiao and Huang He. Translation by Mikołaj Jaroszewicz.
