SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Federal Director of Outreach Experiences Transcendent Beauty of Shen Yun

Apr 15, 2026

4/15/2026Updated: 4/15/2026

SPOKANE, Wash.—Andrew Rolwes, a federal director of outreach, saw Shen Yun Performing Arts on April 14, 2026, at First Interstate Center for the Arts.

“I loved it. I had a lump in my throat. It was just so beautiful. It was very moving,” Mr. Rolwes said.

Shen Yun, based in New York, is on a mission to present “China before communism” and to revive people’s connection to 5,000 years of Chinese civilization and culture.

“The combination of choreography, the music, and the stage design—the dancing expressed profound ideas without the need for words. I think it just captures an essence of things that are transcendent, things that are good, true, and beautiful,” Mr. Rolwes praised.

Shen Yun’s artists are trained in classical Chinese dance, one of the most comprehensive dance systems in the world.

“It’s very rarely that you get to see that expression of these deep, profound things, and I’ve enjoyed that part of it very much,” Mr. Rolwes said.

Shen Yun’s website states that classical Chinese dance training includes three main components—technical skill, form, and bearing, which is one of the many ways that classical Chinese dance is different from ballet.

Mr. Rolwes shared that there were “moments where I was almost transfixed—when you get to see such a perfect balance of grace and beauty combined with this magnificent, physical strength and power.”

Chinese literature, along with Chinese history and legend, is a rich source of inspiration for Shen Yun. Mr. Rolwes enjoyed Shen Yun’s portrayal of the Chinese classic, “Journey to the West.”

“I thoroughly enjoyed the story of Monkey and how he overcame his opponents. It’s sublime and also entertaining. And it’s a perfect balance of deep and meaningful things as well as very just great entertainment,” he said.

Another dance story that left a deep impression told the true story of Falun Dafa practitioners following the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. Despite their goodness, they are being persecuted for their faith in present-day China.

“I think that speaks to everybody that gets to see it. The first time I saw it was several years ago,” Mr. Rolwes said.

He also shared that he was moved to see, “the intense trauma and suffering the followers of Falun Dafa experienced, expressed [with] grace and beauty and strength.”

Reporting by Sherry Dong 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.