SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun’s Message Is ‘Very Universal,’ Says Former Ballet Dancer

Jan 28, 2026

1/28/2026Updated: 1/28/2026

ATLANTA—Former ballet dancer turned real estate developer Alana Shaw and commercial broker Korey Jones found Shen Yun Performing Arts’ evening show at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on Jan. 27, absolutely beautiful.

“We found it amazingly terrific. The curtain pulled back before the current administration in China, going back 5,000 years, and showing us the history of this country, which is epic,” Mr. Jones exclaimed. “It is one of the most beautiful cultures in the world. … The choreography was stunning.”

As one of the oldest civilizations in the world, China’s 5,000 years of history are 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 rapidly eroded belief in the divine, and the cherished virtues rooted in Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism were suppressed. Today, Shen Yun seeks to revive this lost civilization, bringing to the world, through dance and music, the beauty of China before communism.

The choreography “told us a story, and that’s a story we want everyone to hear and to see,” Ms. Shaw expressed.

“It’s our understanding that the current administration in China does not want this story told. We loved the drawing back of the curtain and seeing behind the scenes and seeing what really was in the past.”

Although Shen Yun is beloved by audiences worldwide, the company is banned from performing in China due to its commitment to reviving traditional culture and raising awareness of ongoing human rights issues.

As a dancer, Ms. Shaw was especially moved by how the stories were conveyed through movement. “What folks want to see is that the story is being told through dance,” she shared. “This is what we love—an expression through dance and music and songs, it’s amazing.”

“The [performers’] skills were magnificent. What I relate to dancing and feeling is that you have to feel the dance. So, when they are dancing on stage, and I’m feeling that emotion …[of] what they were trying to portray, that was excellent.”

Shen Yun artists are highly trained in classical Chinese dance, one of the most athletic and expressive art forms in the world, with origins spanning thousands of years.

Ms. Shaw was deeply moved by the artists’ depiction of the heavenly realms and celestial maidens. “That was to me a very spiritual moment, which everyone should encounter,” she said.

For her, Shen Yun’s message is “very universal.”

“It’s about finding your inner spirit and finding God and love. Spread that love and make peace, she said. “All humans are the same, all over the world.”

“The takeaway from this show is to be positive and love every person, [whoever] they may be or be or [however broken] they are. And open ourselves up to like everything and not be so critical of people. Just be patient.”

Reporting by Sherry Dong 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.