CHIAYI, Taiwan—On the afternoon of Jan. 25, Shen Yun New Era Company concluded its fifth and final performance at the Chiayi Performing Arts Center in Chiayi City, located in southwestern Taiwan. All five performances were completely sold out. Through its profound spiritual heritage and exceptional artistic excellence, Shen Yun not only captivated audiences visually, but also inspired many to reflect more deeply on life’s meaning and direction.
“Nowadays in Taiwan, it’s very rare to see dance performances this outstanding,” Mr. Wang said. He noted that Shen Yun’s dancing is consistently refined and impressive, leaving a strong impression both in its overall grandeur and in its attention to detail.
He also observed that in a time of global uncertainty and social unrest, performances that calm the mind and convey positive values are especially precious.
He explained that such performance is the result of long-term, repetitive, and rigorous training. “Your fundamentals have to be extremely strong. Some movements simply require endless repetition,” he said.
Mr. Wang also shared that he has always enjoyed dance, which allows him to recognize how remarkable Shen Yun dancers are in terms of stability and overall coordination.
“There are many kinds of dance around the world, and every country has its own,” Mr. Wang said. “But what Shen Yun presents is something pleasing to the eye—something that makes you feel happy and calm.” He added that Shen Yun’s music also has the power to purify the heart.
Mr. Wang further shared his belief that the world contains both the divine and the devil, and that positive, benevolent content in the arts often brings constructive influence. “The good aspects help guide people in a better direction,” he said. He believes that art, which gives people emotional grounding and inner calm, is, in itself, something very meaningful.
Huang Chiung-yao, owner of a health and aesthetics center, attended the performance with friends. This was her fourth time seeing Shen Yun. For Ms. Huang, Shen Yun is no longer just a stage performance, but a cultural experience that deepens with each stage of life.
“Shen Yun is a performance everyone should see at least once in their lifetime,” Ms. Huang said, noting that her understanding of the show has evolved with each viewing.
Ms. Huang recalled that in the past, she was drawn mainly to the grandeur of the stage, the colors, and the movement. Over time, however, she began to appreciate the deeper meaning and spiritual dimension conveyed by Shen Yun.
“It’s not just about spectacle,” she said. “It allows you to quiet down and rethink what you are truly pursuing in life.”
After returning to the theater year after year, Ms. Huang noticed subtle changes in her own state of mind. “In recent years, I truly feel that I’ve become gentler and more willing to care about the people around me,” she said.
As these insights accumulated, she came to better understand the values sought at different stages of life. “I used to think that working hard and achieving results was everything,” she said. “But gradually I realized that money is only one part of life. What truly matters is the kind of person you choose to become.”
In her view, Shen Yun is a performance that reveals its depth through repeated viewings. “Shen Yun doesn’t just move me,” she said. “It helps me rediscover the direction and values of my life.”
“It creates a cycle of goodwill in society,” she said. “If more people see Shen Yun, there can be a more benevolent atmosphere. I hope my children can grow up in such an environment.”
She brought her children to the performance in hopes that it would inspire them as well. “Shen Yun tells stories through dance and movement. Even without dialogue, I found that children can actually understand it,” she said.
She also believes Shen Yun can inspire Taiwanese society to return to humanity’s innate goodness. “I believe that human nature is inherently good,” Dr. Chang said, “but today’s environment is very different from when I was growing up.”
She expressed hope that her children could experience the kind of society she knew as a child, where people trusted one another. “I hope the whole world can return to humanity’s original goodness,” she said. “A world where relationships between people are grounded in kindness.”
