SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Indianapolis Theatergoer Finds Shen Yun’s Performance Powerful

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Indianapolis Theatergoer Finds Shen Yun’s Performance Powerful
Eric Bley watched Shen Yun Performing Arts with his family at the Clowes Memorial Hall, Butler Arts Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Feb. 3, 2024. Charlie Lu/The Epoch Times

INDIANAPOLIS, In.—Eric Bley, a mechanist and dance instructor, watched Shen Yun Performing Arts with his family at the Clowes Memorial Hall, Butler Arts Center on Feb. 3. Mr. Bley said that he had been waiting a long time to see Shen Yun.

“As soon as the curtain rose, I almost cried,” he said.

As a dancer, Mr. Bley had high praises for Shen Yun’s performers.

“I can see the passion and every movement,” said Mr. Bley. “Everything matters to what they’re doing … I felt like they were right there. I feel like I was on stage with them. As they’re dancing, their energy is coming right up to me!”

Based in New York, Shen Yun’s name means “the beauty of divine beings dancing.” Since its inception in 2006, Shen Yun has expanded from one to eight equally-sized companies that tour around the world simultaneously, realizing its mission to revive traditional Chinese culture through classical Chinese dance and music.

“The emotions that they brought through their dancing was just powerful, very powerful!” said Mr. Bley. He also said that he found the choreography unique and different from the dance style he was accustomed to.

Mr. Bley was also impressed by Shen Yun’s patented animated backdrop.

“I didn’t expect all that,” he said. “It was seamless.”

Other than dance vignettes, Shen Yun’s program also includes story-based dances, which Mr. Bley enjoyed.

“They nailed it,” he said, adding that the stories and emotions were clearly portrayed.

According to the Shen Yun website, China was once known as “the land of the divine,” and the Chinese people believed that their culture was a gift from the heavens. Shen Yun’s opening dance number depicts divine beings following the Creator down to Earth to establish Chinese civilization.

“I really enjoyed the message of creation,” said Mr. Bley. “I was very pleased that that was in there many times. And the fight we have against evil, right? The good and evil—we still know that today. That’s always the fight in our soul, and thank God we have … a creator that designed us a specific way.”

Reporting by Charlie Lu 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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