SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun Shares the Importance of Truth With Evansville

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Shen Yun Shares the Importance of Truth With Evansville
Tristan Wedding and John Shetler at the Shen Yun Performing Arts performance at Aiken Theatre - Old National Events Plaza, on Feb. 1, 2023. Charlie Lu/The Epoch Times
EVANSVILLE, Ill.—Everyone should be able to speak their mind, but there are still people living in totalitarian states who do not have this basic human right. Around the world, Shen Yun Performing Arts is helping these people gain a voice.

“The part when they were showing the communism coming in and tearing away religion and keep people from bettering themselves and saying, ‘no, the state will tell you how to better yourself’—I think we trust too much on a government versus taking responsibility for ourselves and our own well-being,” said John Shetler, a CFO in transportation, after seeing Shen Yun’s one-night performance in Evansville, Illinois on Feb. 1.

Shen Yun is based in New York, and using classical Chinese dance and music, it tells of the beauty of China before communism.

“I think it’s excellent. I think that the art really conveys the story that the artist is trying to tell. China and its culture struggles, going up into communism and trying to get the tradition back,” Mr. Shetler commented.

Classical Chinese dance is an ancient form of dance that embodies parts of martial arts and Chinese theater. Using bearing, form, and technique as its three main components, dancers are able to express any emotion with their movements.

“Artistically, the dancing is beautiful. The timing is just spot on.” said Tristan Wedding, who attended the performance with Mr. Shetler.

Although Shen Yun’s singers sing in Chinese, audiences around the world are able to follow along through the translation provided on the digital backdrop. Mr. Shetler found much in common in the text with his own beliefs.
“Very common. If you look at the wording and you look at the basics of Catholicism, the embodiment of God, and got into heaven and will come again and everything will last eternally. Those were the words directly from the song. So it’s very common between East and West on religion,” he said.
Shen Yun’s digital backdrop is one of a kind. The technique of dancers interacting with the backdrop is Shen Yun’s patent. The backdrop is an extension of the stage, and with it, Shen Yun is spared the hassle of traveling with heavy sets and props.

“It’s been excellent. I’m wondering how the timing is so impeccable, on whenever the characters are landing and then they have a seemingly coming out of the screen so perfectly you almost think they are coming out of the screen. And I’m wondering how they get that timing so perfect. I’m sure it took a lot of practice,” said Mr. Shetler. “It’s so perfect, so well done.”

Reporting by Charlie Lu 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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