SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun Is ‘Truly Magnificent,’ Says Former Dancer

Dec 20, 2025

12/20/2025Updated: 12/20/2025

AMNÉVILLE, France—Former French Dance Federation dancer turned nursing assistant Eric Kerlé Kosniewski attended Shen Yun Performing Arts’ matinee at Galaxie Amnéville on Dec. 20. He was mesmerized by the beauty and skill of the dancers.

“It’s magnificent, truly magnificent. There’s a level of discipline in [Shen Yun] that we don’t really have here. Even though our level is high too, I believe [theirs] is even higher,” Mr. Kosniewski exclaimed.

“Everyone is the same height, and when the long sleeves rise into the air, they all move at exactly the same moment. Nothing is out of place.”

Based in New York, Shen Yun artists are highly trained in classical Chinese dance. Dating back thousands of years, it is one of the most athletic and expressive art forms in the world. In fact, many movements seen in modern-day gymnastics originated from it.

According to the company’s website, the classical Chinese dance seen in China today is heavily mixed with military and modern dance styles. Only at Shen Yun can you find it performed in its purest form—the way it was originally passed down through the generations.

Mr. Kosniewski was stunned by the performers’ athleticism. “What surprised me, as someone who practiced dance, is the strong blend of gymnastics and dance into one—backward flips, cartwheels,” he said.

“As a dancer, I never did that kind of movement. For me, it was more about dancing with the arms and legs. But lifting themselves the way they do, that’s something else. Thankfully, it’s beautiful. It’s different, and it’s beautiful, and I really appreciate it.”

He also enjoyed Shen Yun’s use of a 3D digital backdrop that creates seamless interaction between the backdrop projection and the performers on stage. By extending the stage to infinite realms, this patented 3D invention brings to the audience “storytelling without limits.

“It’s magical for me—truly magical. At one point, I even thought a donkey or a bird might walk onto the stage; that’s how magical it felt,” Mr. Kosniewski said.

“It’s like being inside a fairy tale—a children’s story. It’s amazing to be able to blend these two disciplines: video and projection. … Together with dance and the discipline of the male and female dancers. It’s truly magnificent.”

Reporting by Jeanne Williams 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.