SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun’s Art Transcends Speech. It’s Heavenly, Says New York Theatergoer

Mar 27, 2026

3/27/2026Updated: 3/27/2026

NEW YORK—Financial advisor Bob Ceccarelli and Julie Ceccarelli, a seamstress, attended Shen Yun Performing Arts’ matinee at the David H. Koch Theater on March 26. They were pleasantly surprised by the richness and depth of traditional Chinese culture.

“Aesthetically, it’s beautiful, and I like the messaging,” Mr. Ceccarelli said. “Everybody’s human, and there’s a commonality even across cultures … [Shen Yun] is worthwhile. It’s nice to come.”

“I like that art transcends talking. You can talk and become very intellectual, but there’s something about art, music, and dance that moves you in a higher place—heavenly.”

Based in New York, Shen Yun is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company dedicated to reviving China’s rich culture, nearly lost under decades of communist rule.

Its production is comprised of a series of short pieces that takes its audience on a ride through the dynasties and across the vast regionsof China. Using classical Chinese, folk, and ethnic dances, as well as solo musical performances, Shen Yun tells tales from ancient times to the modern day.

Ms. Ceccarelli also thoroughly enjoyed the performance. “The dancing is amazing. It’s a lot different than I thought it would be, there’s a deeper message than I thought there would be,” she shared. “I like it … It’s magical.”

One of the most memorable pieces for him was the dance telling the story of an ambitious young girl who disguises herself as a boy to enroll in a boys-only academy at a time when aristocratic women were expected to stay at home and focus on lady-like pursuits such as embroidery.

“I don’t know why that one got me,” Mr. Ceccarelli commented. “That was very nice.” He added that the takeaway message he’s bringing home from the performance is that “the world needs to come together.”

“We need to be more grounded,” Ms. Ceccarelli chimed in.

Charley and John Dodson enjoyed Shen Yun’s matinee at the David H. Koch Theater on March 26, 2026. (Frank Liang/The Epoch Times) — Charley and John Dodson enjoyed Shen Yun’s matinee at the David H. Koch Theater on March 26, 2026. Frank Liang/The Epoch Times

Also in the audience was John Dodson, a combat veteran and engineer, and his wife, Charley, a former ice dancer.

Mr. Dodson was particularly impressed that, in addition to reviving traditional culture and moral values, Shen Yun also raises awareness of ongoing human rights issues in China, such as the communist regime’s brutal organ harvest from the people of faith to sell on the black market.

“It touched on some current issues—particularly the organ harvesting issues that they mentioned was very impressive for an artistic performance to touch upon,” he shared, “and [the performance] was beautiful—all the costumes and the tremendous emotions were very impressive.”

As a dancer herself, Mrs. Dodson paid close attention to the performers and was struck by their technical excellence.

“Some of the things that they did on the stage were really extraordinary,” she said. “It’s easier to do on ice than dry land, and they did it in stunning fashion… [their] extension was perfection.”

Since its establishment in 2006, Shen Yun has earned widespread acclaim. Each year, the artists present a brand-new set of choreography and musical compositions, ensuring that both new and returning audience members are always in for a surprise.

Reporting by Frank Liang, Sally Sun, 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.