CLAREMONT, Calif.—Shen Yun Performing Arts has delighted a global audience since its inception in 2006. Every year, the New York-based company creates a brand new production, reviving the mystery and majesty of 5,000 years of ancient Chinese history and traditions.
“This is a life-changing experience for me. I’ve never been to a show like this in my life. … I love it on every level. It broke my heart; it opened my heart,” said actor Owen Harn.
Shen Yun features classical Chinese dance, a rich and complex art form, along with folk dances and story-based dances, a full orchestra with instruments from both the east and west, a stunning backdrop that interacts with the performers, musical soloists, and more.
Excitement, joy, and wonder are qualities often expressed by audience members around the world after watching Shen Yun.
“We love to dance. We’re dance instructors, and to see something like this performance, it was magnificent. It transforms you into another world, and it’s so nice to have the opportunity to bring our family to see something like this. It’s a once in a lifetime. But to see this type of dancing, this is in another class all by itself,” said Christine Stel, a dance instructor and former dance competitor.
“My heart is in serenity, a lot of spirituality. I don’t know how to describe that,” said Miguel Martinez, a veterinarian and consumer safety officer for FDA.
The roots of Shen Yun Performing Arts run deep, as does the company’s desire for the world to really know the true history of ancient China and the impact of modern China under communist rule.
“For 5,000 years divine culture flourished in the land of China. Humanity’s treasure was nearly lost, but through breathtaking music and dance, Shen Yun is bringing back this glorious culture,” states the company website.
Audience members are touched and share a willingness to express their incredible experience of the Shen Yun Performances. Their comments speak of how moved they are and often read like poetry.
“It cleansed my heart,” said Miri Aloni, an Israeli folk singer, who sings “Shir HaShalom” (“Song For Peace”).
“What they gave me, this is what I am taking with me. This is something that the soul absorbs, accepts. I have no words, I just have no words,” Giora Feidman, prominent clarinetist specializing in klezmer.
“It was very spiritual, touched you deeply, moved you. And when [the soprano] sang the words of that song about Dafa and compassion and integrity and all of that just … it’s the way we should be,” Marianne Reed, academic dean and professor of language arts at the College of St. Joseph.
“Whatever someone practices that allows them to connect with whatever they want to call it—God, the divine energy, peace—is important. People may just think they are coming to a show, but there is something much deeper behind it,” said Joe Polish, corporate business consultant, founder and president of Piranha Marketing Inc.
Shen Yun now has five equally large companies that tour the world simultaneously, bringing an all-new performance of dance, colorful costumes, animated backdrops, singing, and live music to over 150 theaters every year, says the company website.
This season, the company has already staged shows in dozens of cities throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Israel, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand and Argentina. With more performances around the world to come, Shen Yun will delight and transform viewers around the globe.
Shen Yun will perform in the Greater Los Angeles area from March 30 to April 28.
