MESA, Ariz.—On Feb. 4, Shen Yun Performing Arts concluded its third and final performance at the Ikeda Theater to enthusiastic applause. Sitting in the audience were Jim Lloyd, a partner at an architectural firm, and his wife, Brooke, a senior business analyst.
It was their first time seeing Shen Yun, and they thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
“The costumes are amazing, and the dancing and that tenor … was gorgeous,” Mr. Lloyd exclaimed. “It’s beautiful.”
“I [could read the lyrics] on the screen, the message was a good message. I liked the message. It reminded us that we need to look to our Creator. I am a firm believer that we have a Creator that created us all.”
As one of the oldest civilizations in the world, China’s 5,000 years of history is filled with breathtaking legends and rich traditions. Yet, within just a few decades of the Chinese communists’ rise to power, this magnificent culture was destroyed.
The spread of atheism quickly eradicated the Chinese people’s belief in the divine. The cherished virtues and values learned from the teachings of Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism disappeared overnight.
Today, Shen Yun’s New York-based artists are working to revive this lost civilization and bring back to the world through dance and music, the beauty of China before communism.
Mrs. Lloyd said that while Shen Yun’s performing arts style was different from what she typically watches, she found the experience beautiful.
“The dancers were amazing, and it’s beautiful, and it’s graceful,” she shared. “I love watching the orchestra, it’s just amazing with all the different instruments.”
According to the company’s website, Shen Yun’s orchestra is the first in the world to permanently combine ancient Chinese and Western instruments.
In Chinese, ’medicine‘ and ’music’ share the same written character but with different pronunciations, reflecting the ancient belief that music is one of the earliest forms of medicine in the world.
Mr. Lloyd especially loved the erhu, a 4,000-year-old Chinese instrument reminiscent of the human voice. Though it only has two strings, it is capable of expressing a wide range of emotions. “It’s beautiful music,” he praised.
In 2026, Shen Yun’s eight touring companies will bring their performances to more than 200 cities worldwide. With a brand-new program each year, the company’s 20th anniversary promises another season filled with fresh surprises for both first-time and returning audiences.
