SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun ‘Phenomenal, Extraordinary, Moving, Inspiring,’ Says Nonprofit Founder

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Shen Yun ‘Phenomenal, Extraordinary, Moving, Inspiring,’ Says Nonprofit Founder
Mara Taylor and Mark Winer attended Shen Yun Performing Arts at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts on Feb. 25 (Linda Jiang/The Epoch Times)

LAS VEGAS—When educator and psychologist Mara Taylor saw Shen Yun Performing Arts’ colorful ads on television, she was not expecting more than beautiful dancing. She and her friend Mark Winer, a retired photographer, at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts on Feb. 25, and after seeing the performance, Ms. Taylor was delighted to discover that Shen Yun was more than she had expected.

“Absolutely phenomenal, extraordinary, moving, inspiring,” was Ms. Taylor’s description of Shen Yun. “Everything, … [from] the individuals who are performing to the orchestra—everybody is in sync, everybody is united with the same mission, and it’s very beautiful.”

Based in New York, Shen Yun was founded in 2006 by leading Chinese artists and quickly became the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company. Shen Yun’s mission is to revive traditional Chinese culture and to present the beauty of China before communism.

Shen Yun’s program includes story dances, some of which are set in modern-day China and depict the communist government’s persecution of followers of Falun Dafa, a spiritual practice that teaches the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance.

Ms. Taylor, founder and executive of a rehabilitation nonprofit, thought that the principles were beautiful and universal. She said she resonated with them very much and that “we need to see more of them.”

Ms. Taylor said she “had heard a lot about the Falun Gong and what’s going on in China.”

“It breaks my heart, and I’m so happy to see the message being given to so many. It’s phenomenal,” she said.

Both Ms. Taylor and Mr. Winer appreciated Shen Yun’s divine elements, which reflected traditional Chinese culture’s spiritual foundation. Shen Yun’s program includes songs performed in the bel canto style, and the lyrics warn against subscribing to atheistic ideas.

“I loved it when he said evolution and atheism is the culprit,” said Mr. Winer. “True, if you don’t believe in something, you believe in nothing. That causes problems, so yes, I think it was fantastic.”

“I love the divine aspect,” said Mr. Winer. “I’m only sorry that it’s not allowed to be shown in China.”

Mr. Winer described Shen Yun’s performance as “absolutely phenomenal.”
“The dancers are the best I’ve ever seen. Everything, the storyline, the way that it integrates with the screen behind, literally everything, it was top of the line, beautiful.”
Reporting by Linda Jiang 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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