SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Company President Found Shen Yun Mesmerizing: ‘I Couldn’t Take My Eyes Away’

Mar 09, 2025

SPOKANE, Wash.— On March 8, company president Denis Tremblay and his wife, Michele, celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary with a special evening at Shen Yun Performing Arts. Sharing their thoughts in the lobby of the First Interstate Center for the Arts, the couple was very impressed.

“I looked at all those young people up there [performing,] and all I kept on thinking they must have some really proud parents. It was mesmerizing. … I couldn’t take my eyes [away]. My eyes were going all over the stage,” Mr. Tremblay exclaimed.

“It was definitely quality. I would recommend it. We sat there and we thought to ourselves, we should have brought our granddaughter … she would have loved this show.”

Based in New York, Shen Yun is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company dedicated to reviving China’s rich culture nearly lost under decades of communist rule. Its performances feature a series of short dances highlighting various regions of China, as well as solo musical pieces.

As his family’s storyteller, Mr. Tremblay doubly appreciates that Shen Yun is reviving traditional culture through story-based dances recounting both ancient and modern-day tales. He thought the artists’ are doing it “in a very positive light.”

Mrs. Tremblay, too, said the performance was flawless. “The choreography was just amazing. We enjoyed it,” she reflected. She was deeply impressed by Shen Yun’s 3D digital backdrop that collaborated with the dancers on stage to enhance storytelling.

“Traditions are so wonderful. We’ve come so far from our roots these days, and it’s just nice to see people reflecting back on what the traditions of years gone by, and we can’t forget them. We just can’t. We need to keep them first and foremost,” Mrs. Tremblay added.

“It’s nice to see so many young folks that are valuing [tradition,] and you can tell by the smiles on their faces. I honestly think it was true emotional feelings that they were having. There wasn’t anybody telling them that’s what they had to do. You could tell that they truly loved what they were doing.”

Though Shen Yun Performing Arts is well-beloved by audiences around the world, it is currently forbidden by the ruling Chinese regime from performing in China. In fact, many of Shen Yun’s founding members had fled to America to escape persecution by the communist party.

“That’s disappointing to me. That’s very disappointing to me because when I looked at the kids that were up there dancing …they weren’t doing it just as a performance, they really looked like they enjoyed themselves when they were doing it,” Mr. Tremblay said.

Mrs. Tremblay chimed in that she wishes the artists could “express themselves freely in their country without being persecuted.”

“As Americans, to see all those young Chinese people up there it just accentuates how important it is that our two countries keep working together and sharing a friendship that will stand the test of time,” she said.

If given the chance to speak with the performers, Mrs. Tremblay would like to encourage them to “keep up the good work.”

“Don’t give this up. As long as your body holds up, keep doing it because you’re spreading a wonderful word.”

Reporting by Frank Zhang 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.