SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Traditional Chinese Culture Offers Kindness and Compassion to Society

Apr 29, 2024
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Traditional Chinese Culture Offers Kindness and Compassion to Society
Scott Koenig attended Shen Yun Performing Arts at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on April 25, 2024. (Weiyong Zhu/The Epoch Times)
NEWARK, N.J.—Shen Yun Performing Arts performed at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on April 25. Scott Koenig enjoyed the performance for presenting knowledge of another culture and history.

“It’s just very enjoyable. A lot of the history, the history of this country 400 years ago. Obviously, this [China]goes back thousands of years,” he said.

Through classical Chinese dance and music, Shen Yun is sharing with the world the beauty of China’s authentic 5,000 years of history. Since its founding in 2006, the company has received worldwide accolades for its mission to revive traditional Chinese culture.

He saw a connection with his own ancestry in escaping persecution. “My ancestors came over to start this country 400 years ago to escape persecution in England,” he said.

Mr. Koenig said that traditional Chinese culture brings kindness and compassion to society, and he connected with that message. “The spiritual part of it, which is very similar to the spiritual part that I have of a Creator who really wants all good things to happen.”
He noted how evil works in society, “and that’s how there’s an evil that does take place and evil people that want to try [to ruin society]. They even mention Satan, who wants to thwart people, trap them, and restrict them.”

Shen Yun’s Art ‘Brings Everyone Together’

Ed and Faith Gilger enjoyed many aspects of Shen Yun’s performance: “The costuming, the dancing, and the scenery is beautiful,” Mrs. Gilger said.

Mr. Gilger said he liked how the story was told through the dancers’ movements: “They make it very easy to follow the story even though it’s a different culture. So just from the costumes and from the expressions and the dance, it makes it easy to follow the story.”

Ed and Faith Gilger attended Shen Yun Performing Arts at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on April 25, 2024. (Frank Liang/The Epoch Times)
Ed and Faith Gilger attended Shen Yun Performing Arts at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on April 25, 2024. (Frank Liang/The Epoch Times)
He was impressed with the similarities and connections with different cultures: “I think how every culture is relatable. In the summary that the narrators give at the beginning, when you follow the story through the dance, you can see something in your own life that is very similar that relates to the story being told in the dance.”

Mr. Gilger said that Shen Yun’s spiritual message in each story “talks about perseverance, and how by living life you get through life. Through different parts of your life, you learn different things. How having thoughts and ideas and being able to express yourself is how we all get through life.”

He resonated with the power of faith that Shen Yun shares with the audience: “I think that we all have something we need to believe in. You have to find something to believe in, and no matter what that is, having that belief is what helps you get through any type of trials that you may have in your life.”

Mrs. Gilger noticed how Shen Yun’s artistry connected people of all persuasions. “I just think the art of it brings everyone together, I think everyone appreciates how beautiful [Shen Yun is].”

Reporting by Frank Liang, Weiyong Zhu, and Yvonne Marcotte.
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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