SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun Is ‘So Beautiful. It Brought Tears to My Eyes,’ Says Former Dancer

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Shen Yun Is ‘So Beautiful. It Brought Tears to My Eyes,’ Says Former Dancer
Marie Ann Stutz and her family enjoyed Shen Yun's evening performance at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2025. Yeawen Hung/The Epoch Times
Epoch Newsroom
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KANSAS CITY, Mo.—Marie Ann Stutz, a former professional dancer turned pastor, was deeply moved by her first experience of Shen Yun Performing Arts on March 12, at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. She described the evening as truly breathtaking.

“I cried. It was so beautiful. It brought tears to my eyes. I’ve never seen anything like it,” Ms. Stutz exclaimed. “The background, it was tremendous. I’m so glad I got to come before I died.”
Based in New York, Shen Yun artists are masters of classical Chinese dance, an ancient and highly expressive art form dating back thousands of years. Unlike the modern, military-influenced styles often seen in China today, Shen Yun preserves and performs this tradition in its most authentic form, as it was originally passed down through generations.

As an instructor of classical ballet and gymnastics, Ms. Stutz was especially amazed by the skill and artistry of Shen Yun’s dancers. “This surpassed anything I’ve ever taught,” she said. “I wish I could have been that good. I just think this is the best.”

Shen Yun’s performance is comprised of a series of short pieces that take its audience on a ride through the dynasties and across the vast regions of China. Using classical Chinese, folk, and ethnic dances, as well as solo musical performances, the artists tell tales from ancient times to the modern day.

Ms. Stutz enjoyed every piece so much that it was impossible for her to select a favorite. She thought the whole performance was very spiritual and filled with positive energy.

“It was beautiful. Beautiful. I don’t know how [they] did the background with the people coming out of it. I’m a Christian woman, and that’s heaven to me,” she shared, referring to the company’s patented, 3D digital backdrop that seamlessly collaborates with the performers to extend the stage and enhance storytelling.

“There’s so much of it that each act was breathtaking. It was just so tremendously entertaining and breathtaking—it was like in heaven at times. … Heaven and earth.”

For its 2025 touring season, Shen Yun’s eight equally-sized companies will be performing in over 200 cities across five continents. Met with wide acclaim since its establishment in 2006, the company can be expected to return each year with a brand-new set of choreography and musical compositions.
Reporting by Yeawen Hung 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.
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