INDIANAPOLIS—Foundation director Hayden Bishop and company manager Mike Scheidt attended Shen Yun Performing Arts’ evening show on Feb. 21 at the Butler Arts Center. It was the company’s second of three consecutive performances at the venue.
“It was extremely impressive, choreographed very well,” Mr. Scheidt said afterward. “It was very artistic and colorful.”
Ms. Bishop also thoroughly enjoyed the evening.
The dancing was fabulous,” she said. “The artistry, the choreography, the movement of their feet—how quickly they moved across the floor in such an elegant manner—the costumes, the colors were delightful to watch. I so appreciate the sharing of the cultures.”
Founded in 2006 by elite Chinese artists who fled persecution, the New York-based Shen Yun is dedicated to reviving the beauty and virtues of China before communism. Its performance takes the audience through China’s dynasties and legends, while also raising awareness for the ongoing human rights challenges in present-day China.
What stood out was China’s “historical culture, where it began, [how] the Chinese Communist Party tried to break the human spirit, and how the human spirit persevered at the end,” he said.
Ms. Bishop agreed, stating that Shen Yun captured “the triumph of the community, the drawing together of the ages—the old and the young—[and] wanting to make sure that everyone came along, [that] no one is left behind.”
“I’ve wanted to see this show for many years. … To come to watch this show is totally enlightening. It renews your faith and humanity, that there is a belief that you need to look to our ancestors to guide us in the future.”
For Ms. Bishop, the takeaway was clear: “We definitely need peace, we need more joy, we need more love, and we need to be more forgiving.”
For its 2026 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.
“The athleticism, the focus, the artistry, the music, the dedication it takes to do that—it’s amazing to watch,” he emphasized. “What they do out there is amazing, and there’s a belief inside them when they’re doing that, it’s unbelievable to watch.”
