SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Every Part of Shen Yun ‘Is Gorgeous,’ Says Wyoming Theatergoer

Mar 27, 2025

3/27/2025Updated: 3/27/2025

CHEYENNE, Wyo.—Hotel manager Shannon Stark and her husband Jamin, a mechanic, attended Shen Yun Performing Arts’ last show at the Cheyenne Civic Center on March 26.

Mrs. Stark was amazed by the beauty of the performance and loved the way the dancers’ smiles lit up the stage.

“I loved it, oh my goodness, this has been beautiful,” she said. “The colors and just the way they smile up there—they look like they’re having fun.”

According to its website, the name ‘Shen Yun” translates directly into “the beauty of divine beings dancing.” Based in New York, the artists have made it their mission to revive, through dance and music, China’s divinely inspired civilization to its pre-communist glory.

The performance consists of a series of short pieces that transport the audience through China’s dynasties and diverse regions. Through classical Chinese, folk, and ethnic dances, along with solo musical performances, Shen Yun brings to life stories from ancient history to the present day.

Mr. Stark thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the performance, but he was especially impressed by the artists’ ability to tell a story without using any dialogue.

“I just love the stories that they’re telling and the way they’re able to convey it, absolutely. Every part of it is gorgeous—every bit of it,” he stated.

“You see every part of the story that they’re telling, and you get it. You understand. They bring you into the story and you feel like you’re part of it.”

Moreover, he was amazed by the skill of the dancers and loved the beauty and fluidity of their movements.

“I’ve never seen anything like it. I’m sad I waited this long to see it,” he shared. “The last dance— the music that goes with it and the movements—it was moving.”

Shen Yun artists are masters of classical Chinese dance, an ancient and highly expressive art form dating back thousands of years. Unlike the modern, military-influenced styles often seen in China today, Shen Yun preserves and performs this tradition in its most authentic form, as it was originally passed down through generations.

Mrs. Starks also appreciated the performers’ mission to bring back spirituality. She was very moved by the present-day dance raising awareness for China’s people of faith who are still being persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party.

“I think the story of the guy that got blinded for not being able to say, ‘No, this is my faith,’ and regaining his sight because he did not deny his faith—that really touches home,” she said.

“I’m a Christian and I would never deny my faith. To see [people in China] going through that same thing— [the communist regime] wants them to deny their faith, and they’re standing up to that—that’s huge. It’s a very important part of who we are as people, being able to have our own belief system.”

She felt the whole performance gave her a lot of hope. “You see the hope, and hope is amazing. The way they portrayed it in that whole dance. ... I think that’s important.”

The couple lament that though Shen Yun is well-beloved around the world, it is currently banned by the ruling communist regime from performing in China.

“It’s sad. It’s horrible to think that they are not allowed to go [to China,]” Mrs. Starks said.

“They’re sharing it with us, but they can’t share it with everybody over [in China] because they’ll be persecuted for it. It’s awful. I’m glad we got to be here and be a part of it,” Mr. Stark added.

Reporting by Lily You 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.