SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun Is ‘Worthy of the Nobel Prize,’ Says Italian Councilor

Apr 20, 2023

TORINO, Italy—Giampiero Leo is a member of the regional council of Piemonte. On April 18, he attended Shen Yun’s evening performance at Teatro Regio di Torino, where he is also a board member.

Mr. Leo was thoroughly impressed with his experience and felt that it is inaccurate to call Shen Yun ‘a performance.’

“I would call it a mondial masterpiece! It was moving, exciting—I would not use the word ‘performance,’ [it’s] too modest. It’s a masterpiece,” he exclaimed.

“It incarnates a grace—at any other time [in history,] everyone would have said it was Divine. In a society like this that is losing its sense of true beauty, spirituality, and compassion—it’s much more difficult for people to understand it. There is much more need of [Shen Yun’s] wonderful work—of their education and message.”

Based in New York, Shen Yun is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company. The artists’ mission is to bring back China’s 5,000 years of divinely-inspired culture that had been destroyed by decades of communist rule.

Prior to the regime’s spread of atheism, the teachings of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism were indelible parts of Chinese life. Shen Yun’s goal is to share with everyone the beauty of China before communism.

Mr. Leo thought Shen Yun sent a very strong message. He has been active in advocating for human rights for years and is very familiar with the present-day challenges in communist China.

“I burst into tears because I know [what Shen Yun depicted] was unfortunately true. The stories about the persecution—seeing how it was told here with so much grace and truth—tears came to my eyes. I used a whole pack of tissues!” he expressed.

“The show touched on many things that are bygone—chivalry, heroism, the strength of non-violence. It is not cowardice because they are prepared to endure the risks. Shen Yun is bringing that message to the world. This, for me, is something worthy of the Nobel Prize.”

Referring to the Chinese Communist Party’s ban on Shen Yun from performing in China, Mr. Leo said, “It’s absurd.”

“This is one of the most beautiful things—It is done to emphasize and honor the greatness of China. The ban is madness.”

He was living in Italy during the time of China’s Cultural Revolution and followed its progress “when they were destroying everything.”

“A tree that burns its own roots becomes dry or artificial. It’s not [genuine] anymore,” he lamented. “I find it sad that [communist] China doesn’t understand that.”

Mr. Leo has invited some of his colleagues and fellow elected officials to attend Shen Yun with him later in the week.

“Only by watching it in person can they completely understand. It’s also a good excuse for me to see this greatness again,” he said.

“Shen Yun touches the childhood [innocence] that is inside of every one of us. It brings back everything that’s good. Growing up, you sometimes lose that—Shen Yun has it all come back. I wish Shen Yun has not just eight companies but 80 that go all around the world.”

Reporting by NTD and Jennifer Tseng.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.