SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun’s ‘Deeply Moving’ Portrayal of Truth Resonates in Miaoli

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Shen Yun’s ‘Deeply Moving’ Portrayal of Truth Resonates in Miaoli
Liao Zihci at the Shen Yun Performing Arts performance at Miaobei Art Center on April 14, 2024. Annie Gong/The Epoch Times

MIAOLI, Taiwan—Shen Yun Performing Arts has concluded performances at its penultimate city on its tour of Taiwan. Shen Yun’s performances were so popular that over 200 Vietnamese fans crossed the sea to see Shen Yun.

Liao Zihci, Hsinchu City Councilor, and Lu Yen-ching, National Tsing Hua University professor, were at a performance on April 14.

“I was deeply moved throughout the entire performance because my grandmother actually has mild dementia. But today, she was alert for the entire performance. I feel that beauty transcends language and can overcome all obstacles,” said Ziqi Liao, who came with her 92-year-old grandmother.

Shen Yun is based in New York, and its mission is to revive 5,000 years of Chinese civilization.

“When the curtains first opened, I felt the use of light and shadow was truly stunning. I saw the performers leaping directly out of the images. The musical accompaniment was also wonderful and very moving,” said Ms. Liao.
Shen Yun is also dedicated to using its art to expose the crimes of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
“The dance that moved me to tears was the forced organ harvesting one. Everyone must be aware of the severe and ongoing persecution of freedom of speech and religious freedom by the Chinese Communist Party,” expressed Ms. Liao.

The CCP has proved time and time again that its words cannot be believed. Ms. Liao expressed her concern at the recent events surrounding Hong Kong.

“Look at Hong Kong with the events surrounding Article 23 of the Basic Law; it’s clear that all of the CCP’s promises are false, and the freedom that Hong Kong once hoped for no longer exists. This is something that the world must be made aware of, and we must all come together to safeguard this freedom,” she said.

Ms. Liao felt that Shen Yun’s mission is a noble one. To portray such truths about the CCP, one has to be quite brave and selfless.

“I feel that throughout the entire drama, whether in the dance or the storyline, it presented a sense of selflessness,” she said.

Shen Yun’s dancers are not just well trained in dance; they also hold themselves to the standards, truth, compassion and tolerance; the principles of Falun Dafa.

“I feel that ‘kindness’ is fundamental to everything. True goodness and beauty go hand in hand,” said Ms. Liao.

Falun Dafa is highly beneficial to the health of the mind and body. The practice includes meditation that helps center the mind and calm the heart.

“I’ve tried meditation myself, so I can somewhat understand that feeling. I can feel their overall coordination and that radiance, it was as if they were glowing,” said Ms. Liao.

Shen Yun’s dancers are trained in classical Chinese dance, one of the most athletic and expressive dance systems in the world.

“What impressed me the most was that despite there being no spoken dialogue, you could understand the direction of the story and what they wanted to portray. Through body movements and changes in music, you could feel the plot of the story,” said Ms. Liao.

The stories that Shen Yun portrays on stage come from Chinese mythology, history, and literature. Through dance, the pieces of culture are brought to life again.

“I felt the attention to detail and the emotions from the dancers; for example, the dance, Jigong, [”Monk Ji Gong“] it was very cute, and my grandmother also enjoyed it greatly,” said Ms. Liao.

Shen Yun has eight companies touring the world simultaneously, and each year, Shen Yun puts on an all-new production.

“Every year’s performance is highly anticipated, and if given the opportunity next year, I will definitely bring my grandmother again. You really have to experience it in person to feel it,” she said.

Lu Yen-ching at the Shen Yun Performing Arts performance at Miaobei Art Center on April 14, 2024. (Annie Gong/The Epoch Times)
Lu Yen-ching at the Shen Yun Performing Arts performance at Miaobei Art Center on April 14, 2024. Annie Gong/The Epoch Times

On the afternoon of April 14, Associate Professor Lu Yen-ching from the National Tsing Hua University’s Art and Design Department attended the third performance of Shen Yun at the Miaobei Arts Center.

“As soon as the curtains opened and the gong sounded, clouds from the heavenly realms appeared before us. The grandeur was overwhelming, and the artistic layout inside was so expansive,” said Ms. Lu.

As a professor of art and design, Ms. Lu believes that everyone should be able to see and understand art, and Shen Yun helps achieve that.

“As an art scholar myself, I believe everyone should possess a certain level of literacy in dance, drama, music, visual arts, and interdisciplinary studies. Shen Yun turns these expectations into reality,” she said.

The costume designs of Shen Yun are inspired by the attire worn in the heavens. The colors used have been complimented by designers and artists around the world.

“What’s special here is the color coordination, which can be described as a living dictionary of color appreciation,” praised Ms. Lu.

What we usually see on TV or at the movies has been through a long and arduous production process, but Shen Yun presents live art.

“Although today’s time was short, I am grateful to see such exquisite performances, all executed in unison. What we often see is edited; it is not live. But Shen Yun is different, so I am deeply moved,” she said.

She also believes that Shen Yun can bring joy to everyone.

“I believe everyone seeing Shen Yun will smile. Shen Yun is exemplary because its color coordination is very elegant, unlike earthly colors,” said Ms. Lu.

Although Shen Yun is unable to perform in China, it is still optimistic that one day, the people will be free.

“I believe Shen Yun can inspire people to approach all future matters with a broad mind. In the art world, every artist must convey their uniqueness, but what Shen Yun conveys is universality,” said Ms. Lu.

Reporting by Annie Gong and Maria Han.
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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