TV Executive Says Shen Yun Helped Her Discover Beauty of Ancient Traditions
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Tanya Kayhan (R), CEO of Austria-based community television station Oxus TV, and her sister, Liza Kayhan, enjoyed a Shen Yun performance at the Trump Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington, on Jan. 9, 2026. Terri Wu/The Epoch Times
WASHINGTON—On the evening of Jan. 9, Tanya Kayhan, CEO of the Austria-based community television station Oxus TV, attended a Shen Yun performance at the Trump Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington together with her sister, Liza, who is pursuing an MBA at Georgetown University. The two women said Shen Yun helped them discover how beautiful ancient culture and traditions were, and that they felt a strong connection to those traditions.
Shen Yun’s original handcrafted costumes are rooted in traditional aesthetics, featuring vibrant colors and exquisite detail. Ms. Kayhan was full of praise for the costumes. “The clothes—the dresses and the gowns—were very elegant and very light,” she said. “The different colors, the mix of colors were very interesting to me.”
According to legend, ancient Chinese clothing was inspired by attire worn in the heavens. Shen Yun’s costumes revive the styles of China’s different dynasties, regions, and ethnic groups, bringing the splendor of the past vividly to life on stage.
From a technical perspective, Ms. Kayhan also found the production intriguing, particularly the seamless coordination between the digital backdrop and the dancers. “It mixed the old tradition and new technology,” she said. “Technically, it was very interesting for me.”
Shen Yun’s animated digital backdrops depict breathtaking landscapes and vivid scenes of Chinese society, both ancient and contemporary. Perfectly synchronized with the live performance, they create a visually engaging and immersive experience.
Shen Yun’s mission is to revive and promote China’s nearly lost traditional culture, which deeply resonated with Ms. Kayhan. She recalled a dance piece that highlighted the stark contrast between traditional and modern culture. “It shows how people are busy with TikTok, with new technologies. However, the previous traditions were amazing,” she said. “There’s a huge difference between what Chinese people had and what they have today.”
Ms. Kayhan found the beauty of tradition in Shen Yun especially touching.
“I’ve never attended such a performance before,” she said. “It gave me a sense of connection to the old culture and traditions, and it [made me realize] how beautiful ancient culture was. When we younger generations see these ancient traditions, it really gives us a sense of amazement.”
Shen Yun also portrays stories of Falun Dafa practitioners who suffer brutal persecution in China for upholding the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. Ms. Kayhan said she was previously unaware of this persecution.
“[A certain] belief is forbidden by the Chinese government,” she said, noting that this part of the performance was very meaningful to her.
