SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Jacksonville Couple Finds Joy in Shen Yun’s Beauty

Jan 22, 2025

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.—Kim and Drake Strong saw a Shen Yun performance at the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts on Jan. 21.

“It was nice to get a sense of the traditional Chinese culture here in Jacksonville,” Mr. Strong said. “I like that the show came to us. We didn’t have to go to New York or LA or somewhere like that in order to see the show.”

Shen Yun Performing Arts is a New York-based classical Chinese dance and music company. Every year, Shen Yun tours over 200 cities, presenting the beauty and goodness of China before communism. China has a history of 5,000 years. However, its rich and profound culture was almost lost under the Chinese Communist Party’s rule. Shen Yun is bringing to life a lost culture through beautiful art.

“I feel like you got a real sense of not only the culture but the religion in certain pieces and elements of the show,” said Mr. Strong, “I think that was very clear and direct, and I like that [Shen Yun] wasn’t afraid to show that in this day and age.”

A Shen Yun performance features classical Chinese dance, live orchestra accompaniment, and solo performances. Classical Chinese dance is a complete system of dance that has thousands of years of history. It embodies traditional aesthetic principles with unique dance movements, rhythm, and inner meaning.

Mr. Strong, who works in the finance industry as a trust officer, enjoyed Shen Yun’s dance and music. “My favorite part was the orchestra and the fluidity in the dancing. I love the traditional music, the solo artists were incredible.”

Mrs. Strong added: “Yes, and the costume is very colorful. I like the costumes.”

Mrs. Strong said that the performance gave her the message of being truthful. She said “I think being hopeful and staying true to yourself, like in one of the songs he sang ... to stay truthful and not go for greed and things like that, so I think that’s a good message in our society nowadays. Stay true to yourself.”

“I feel like we’re leaving the show uplifted and happy. It was a great performance. I appreciate it,” said Mr. Strong. “I would love to come back and see it again.”

Reporting by Xinxin Teng and Sophia Fang.

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