SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Spokane Audience Loves Shen Yun’s Representation of Chinese Culture

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Spokane Audience Loves Shen Yun’s Representation of Chinese Culture
Abigail and Aaron Dailey at the Shen Yun Performing Arts performance at First Interstate Center for the Arts in Spokane, Wash., on April 12, 2023. Mary Zhang/The Epoch Times

SPOKANE, Wash.—History is a powerful thing if we take time to understand and learn from it. Aaron Dailey is a college history teacher. He shared that Shen Yun Performing Arts is doing a wonderful job of reviving Chinese culture.

“It’s beautiful. There’s nothing like it in the world. The culture, the music,” said Mr. Dailey.

Chinese culture is 5,000 years old and Shen Yun is using its art to revive Chinese traditional values.

Abigail Dailey, Mr. Dailey’s wife, shared her belief that Shen Yun’s mission is important.

“Very important. I think if we go back to traditional values, we might be a little more social, compassionate, maybe a little bit more happy,” she said.

Shen Yun is presenting a China before communism to audiences. Yet also due to this truthful depiction, Shen Yun is unable to perform in China.

“They’re definitely missing out on this beautiful art being performed,” said Mr. Dailey.

One of the dances illustrates the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. Falun Gong is a peaceful practice that teaches its followers to live their lives according to the principles of truth, compassion, and forbearance.

“That was very sad. And to find out that it’s still happening today is just heartbreaking. So as you may see on the stage, the traditional Chinese culture is very spiritual,” said Mr. Dailey.

Families are being torn apart and people are losing their jobs because the Chinese Communist Party grew jealous of Falun Gong’s popularity and banned the practice in 1999.

‘The one where they took the parents’ daughter. It made me cry. It was just too sad,” said Mrs. Dailey.

Shen Yun’s dancers are trained in classical Chinese dance.

“It was really beautiful. I loved the music and all the costumes,” said Mrs. Dailey.

Shen Yun’s orchestra is a blend of East meets West. Traditional Chinese instruments are highlighted in a classic Western orchestra.

“It flowed. It flowed perfectly. It took me to the physical place, to the location. I loved the fact that it was a real East meets West,” said Mr. Dailey.

Since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006, it has presented a new production every year. And with five millennia of culture to draw from, Shen Yun will never run out of fresh material to bring to life.

“I think by performing it every year, you can definitely spread the values. You can definitely show the importance of them,” said Mrs. Dailey.

Reporting by Mary Zhang 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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