SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Sacramento Theatergoers Praise Shen Yun’s Mission to Revive Traditional Chinese Culture

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Sacramento Theatergoers Praise Shen Yun’s Mission to Revive Traditional Chinese Culture
David Behr attended Shen Yun Performing Arts at the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Jan. 27, 2024. Nan Su/The Epoch Times

SACRAMENTO, Calif.—David Behr, a business owner, watched Shen Yun Performing Arts at the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center on Jan. 27.

“I’m enjoying it. I’m impressed,” said Mr. Behr, who shared that he had learned about Shen Yun through advertisements on television and online.

Based in New York, Shen Yun was founded in 2006 and quickly became the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company. Its mission is to revive traditional Chinese culture and show audiences around the world the beauty of “China before communism.”

Mr. Behr was so impressed with Shen Yun’s production, that he found it difficult to say which specific part he liked the most.

“I think it’s a combination of all of it,” he said. “It’s a package deal. It really is great. I love the animation in the background. That’s pretty cool … I like it all. I can’t pick a piece out. It’s all really very good.”

Mr. Behr also expressed his admiration for traditional Chinese history and culture.

“Every culture has their own special uniqueness to them, and you just have to appreciate what they have,” he said. “The history of the Chinese people is just incredible, and what they were able to do, you know, eons and eons … their art, their science—they gave us gunpowder. How come the Europeans didn’t do that?”

According to the Shen Yun website, China’s ruling Chinese Communist Party began to abolish traditional Chinese culture and values when it seized power in 1949 and began to enforce its atheist ideology. Mr. Behr said that it was great that Shen Yun was reviving traditional Chinese culture.

“You don’t want to lose those old parts of the country and of the people, their ancient history. I think it’s wonderful that it’s happening. I really do.”

During the performance, the audience learns that Shen Yun cannot be seen in China, which Mr. Behr said was very depressing. He voiced his hopes for Shen Yun to be able to perform in China one day.

‘It’s Good to Keep Culture Alive’

Stephen Weller attends Shen Yun Performing Arts at the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Jan. 27, 2024. (Gary Wang/The Epoch Times)
Stephen Weller attends Shen Yun Performing Arts at the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Jan. 27, 2024. Gary Wang/The Epoch Times

Stephen Weller, an air pollution specialist, was also in the audience on Saturday.

“It’s been fantastic,” he said. “Really, really visually stunning.”

Mr. Weller said that he liked Shen Yun’s patented animated backdrop, which allows the performers to move seamlessly between the stage and background. He also praised Shen Yun’s live orchestra, which combines traditional Chinese and Western instruments.

“They’re fun to watch,” said Mr. Weller of the musicians. “They’re very good, very disciplined.”

Mr. Weller described Shen Yun’s performance as “educational” and said that it gave him “a better sense of the Chinese culture.”

He said that he had not known much about Chinese culture and that he found it interesting.

Mr. Weller also said that Shen Yun’s performance had “a lot of really good energy,” which he felt came “from inside each one of the dancers.”

“They have a lot going on,” he said.

Mr. Weller praised Shen Yun’s mission and expressed his well-wishes for Shen Yun’s success.

“I think it’s great,” he said. “Especially if it’s something you get an opportunity to share with the rest of the world, that’s great. It’s good to keep culture alive. I like that. I hope that’s something you guys are very successful with.”

Reporting by Nan Su, Gary Wang, and Wandi Zhu.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.
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