SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

‘Two Hours Is Not Enough,’ Chief Editor Says of Shen Yun

Jan 30, 2025

SACRAMENTO—Julia Gusina, editor-in-chief of the Russian language newspaper Diaspora, knew Shen Yun Performing Arts would be an amazing experience from what she had seen and heard of it, but attending on Jan. 29 still exceeded all expectations.

“[The] advertising was amazing, but in real life, it’s more than amazing,” Ms. Gusina said after seeing Shen Yun at the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center.

In-person, the performance delivers emotions that cannot be experienced through snippets of the show, she explained, and that experience was, in a way, all-encompassing.

“And now I feel that I am a part of some big new experience,” said Ms. Gusina.

New York-based Shen Yun is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance company, with a mission to revive 5,000 years of Chinese civilization. For many audience members, Shen Yun is their first experience with traditional Chinese culture, a divinely inspired culture from China before communism.

Sitting in the audience, Ms. Gusina felt like she become part of something bigger.

“Because I feel that I’m a part of some big culture, I’m a part of some big secrets. I think two hours is not enough to fill all traditions and know all about this culture,” she said.

She noted that she saw the performance on Chinese New Year, making it all the more special, especially since learning that though Shen Yun presents authentic Chinese culture, it cannot perform in China, where the communist regime has sought to wipe out traditional culture.

“Today is a special day, and I feel that I am a part of some big and very special event for all Chinese diaspora here in Sacramento,” she said.

“You must see. You cannot describe because you cannot find words to describe,” Ms. Gusina said after trying to describe the experience for someone who hasn’t yet experienced Shen Yun.

“You just can see, feel, and through your heart, you can have this experience. I think it’s a lot of emotions. All the people in the auditorium were so quiet because it’s a lot of emotions, and you cannot explain, sometimes you cannot describe, you can just see.”

Reporting by NTD and Catherine Yang.

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