SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun Is Definitely ‘A Gift From Heaven,’ Says Washington Theatergoer

Feb 04, 2024
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Shen Yun Is Definitely ‘A Gift From Heaven,’ Says Washington Theatergoer
Tom Mundell and Michelle Cloutier attended Shen Yun Performing Arts at The Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington D.C., on Feb. 3, 2024. (Weiyong Zhu/The Epoch Times)
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Michelle Cloutier, a project manager, and Tom Mundell, a technical consultant, watched Shen Yun Performing Arts at The Kennedy Center Opera House on Feb. 3. Ms. Cloutier shared that she had been excited to learn more about Chinese culture, which she had not known much about.

“It was fantastic,” said Ms. Cloutier. “I can’t believe the beauty and athleticism.”

“I loved it,” said Mr. Mundell. “I love the overall visual style, all the colors, and how everything moves in coordination, the fluid and asceticism. It’s just beautiful and beautifully well done.”

Based in New York, Shen Yun’s name means “the beauty of divine beings dancing.” Since its inception in 2006, Shen Yun has expanded from one to eight equally-sized companies that tour around the world simultaneously, realizing its mission to revive traditional Chinese culture through classical Chinese dance and music.
Shen Yun’s orchestra combines traditional Chinese and Western instruments, and Mr. Mundell said that the solo on the erhu—a traditional Chinese instrument with only two strings—stood out to him.

“I love the way that sounded, and combined with [the] piano, I think that’s beautiful. I loved that one,” he said.

“It’s very ethereal,” said Mr. Mundell, attempting to describe what he felt when he listened to the unique instrument.

“It’s nice to be out of real life, somewhere else in a different time and place. You got the feeling of finally leaving the real world and out to someplace that’s magical. Something you don’t normally have the opportunity to experience, something you can normally imagine, then get a visual of it in real life. So it’s like a connection, something imaginary and real at the same time.”

Ms. Cloutier also felt the otherworldly quality of Shen Yun’s performance.

“[It] definitely is a gift from heaven,” she said. “Especially in the world we are living in now. It’s just very helpful. Watching the performers and how athletic they are but graceful at the same time—it’s just amazing. The idea of hope, you know, this gift of Hope is very inspiring.”

Shen Yun’s program includes story-based dances, some of which are set in modern-day China and depict the steadfast perseverance of followers of Falun Dafa, who are persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party for practicing the spiritual practice that teaches the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance. The three principles left a deep impression on Ms. Cloutier, who said, “It just makes you want to go home and think about those words and think about the different stories.”

“I’m fascinated by that the culture has lasted this long,” she added. “There is such a devotion to keeping the culture alive, a culture that so many of you have fought for. I think that’s beautiful. I think the whole world should do more of that.”

Ms. Cloutier said that she enjoyed Shen Yun’s performance so much that she was eager to see it again—in the next city where Shen Yun will be performing.

“I would encourage any American to come and see, to learn about this beautiful culture in China,” she said. “Every time you see it … something could strike you and [to] say ‘oh, I can read a relate to that.’”

Reporting by Weiyong Zhu and Wandi Zhu.
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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