SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Land Surveyor Says Shen Yun Presents a Memory of Old China

Feb 22, 2025

MILWAUKEE—The Miller High Life Theatre was filled with an enthusiastic audience as Shen Yun Performing Arts took the stage on Feb. 22.

Joerg Feldbinder, a land surveyor, said it was his first time seeing Shen Yun. “It’s incredible. I really like it,” he said.

Shen Yun’s mission is to revive China’s traditional 5,000 years of culture before communism came in and tried to destroy it.

Mr. Feldbinder said, “I see the memory of the old China, that is nice to see. I understand that is suppressed in China right now. So it’s good that there are groups who keep that alive. I like that.”

The present communist regime continues to inhumanely persecute meditators of Falun Gong, who believe in truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance, and Shen Yun presents stories that show this.

“That’s very tragic, honestly,” he said.

Other stories told by Shen Yun’s dancers and live orchestra are tales of adventure, love, and faith that audiences around the world have connected with.

Mr. Feldbinder, originally from Germany, said, “The love story inspired me most. It reminded me of a story [I once heard].”

Shen Yun’s live orchestra accompanies the dances on stage, and with its combination of a traditional Western orchestra with traditional Chinese instruments, is able to evoke feelings and emotions that surprise many in the audience. Mr. Feldbinder said he felt “joy” as he watched the performance.

Mr. Feldbinder noted the difference from Western dance styles, especially in the movement of the arms and hands.

“Yes, it’s different from the classic European dance. [There] is more gesture, so more explanation in the dance itself.”

Shen Yun’s stories are told through the physical movement and expressive gestures of the dancers on stage.

Shen Yun’s state-of-the-art animated backdrop also surprised and delighted Mr. Feldbinder. “It’s amazing. I was surprised at first. It just looked like a screen, and then you bring in that movement that enhances the experience. It’s very nice. It’s an extension of the stage,” he said.

Mr. Feldbinder enjoys classical music and appreciates Shen Yun’s soprano. “I like classical music. I saw an opera singer’s performance yesterday. So, I had a direct comparison with Italian opera to Chinese [singing]. That was really nice. Very good singer; a very great voice,” he said.

“I enjoyed the outreach of the tradition of China,” Mr. Feldbinder said, noting how much he enjoyed the stories from China’s past and learned about China in the present.

To express his appreciation to the performers, Mr. Feldbinder said, “Thank you. Thank you. I really appreciate it. I’m grateful that you put all the work in. It’s incredible dancing.”

Reporting by Nancy Ma and Yvonne Marcotte.

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