SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

New York Anticipates All-New Production of Shen Yun Performing Arts

Mar 25, 2025

3/25/2025Updated: 3/25/2025

The Big Apple will once again welcome Shen Yun Performing Arts to the Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater for an extended run from March 26–30, April 2–5, and April 9–12.

New York audiences have delighted in Shen Yun’s performances, as have theatergoers around the world. Its world tour is once more bringing Shen Yun to the New York stage as the performing arts company has done in several years past.

“It was very moving. I was very impressed with the professionalism. Of course I expected that but I’m just always amazed,” said Ira Thomas, senior supervising attorney at Marks O‘Neill O’Brien Courtney. “No matter how many times you see something like that, the choreography and the synchronicity, it’s just amazing.”

Voice actor Christian Arden said, “To see kindness displayed so artistically, so beautifully, it just displays what the world needs right now. It was like an expression straight from the heart.”

As an artist, Chris Duncan feels connected with artists of other mediums. “It makes me very happy as an artist to be able to see other artists doing such an amazing job,” he said.

Shen Yun conveyed an important message to Mr. Duncan. “That there is a huge need to maintain our culture, our heritage, and to embrace goodness, and to want to be better people,” he said.

Chris Duncan at Shen Yun Performing Arts at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York on April 6, 2024. (Frank Liang/The Epoch Times) — Chris Duncan at Shen Yun Performing Arts at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York on April 6, 2024. Frank Liang/The Epoch Times

A Beautiful Culture

For 5,000 years, China’s civilization flourished under the shared belief that the divine will bless those who uphold traditional moral values. Tragically, within just a few decades of the communist party’s violent takeover, these beliefs were erased and replaced with atheism and materialism.

Andrew Blustein, an attorney, said the performance showed a different China from the one we know today—one he didn’t realize existed.

“There was spirituality before communism. I didn’t realize that,“ he said. ”Very inspirational to know that people still keep their culture going for all these years, even though they’ve been suppressed.”

The goal of Shen Yun’s artists is to return to the world stage the glory and beauty of China’s 5,000 years of divinely-inspired culture.

Robin Wilson and a friend at Shen Yun's third performance at the Lincoln Center on April 5, 2024. (Sally Sun/The Epoch Times) — Robin Wilson and a friend at Shen Yun's third performance at the Lincoln Center on April 5, 2024. Sally Sun/The Epoch Times

“I wasn’t expecting it to be this beautiful—the costumes and the stories behind it. I know Chinese people well, and to see the pain that I know is going on [in present-day Chinese society] hurts my heart,” said Grammy-nominated musician Robin Wilson.

A Great Message

Shen Yun’s spiritual message encourages improvement, according to some audience members.

Nicole Fiene, senior district manager for ADP, was most impressed with the elegance and charming quality of the dancers. “Just the [dancers] gracefulness and the delicateness. I really want to incorporate that in my life.”

Nicole Fiene (L) and Michelle Estevez attended Shen Yun Performing Arts performed at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City on April 7, 2024. (Frank Liang/The Epoch Times) — Nicole Fiene (L) and Michelle Estevez attended Shen Yun Performing Arts performed at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City on April 7, 2024. Frank Liang/The Epoch Times

Ms. Fiene expressed that Shen Yun evoked in her a sense of renewal and continual improvement, which she experienced during the performance. “I just feel like I’m renewed because I always want to work on myself, I always want to improve myself. Every time I see Shen Yun, which always brings me back, it’s like a renewed inspiration to keep on that path of improving myself.”

Lincoln Center staff isareespecially supportive of Shen Yun. Harry Haourari, the Lincoln Center’s director of operations, watched the performance with his 17-year-old daughter in 2024. Mr. Haourari gave high marks to Shen Yun’s live orchestra, which harmoniously blends Western and Eastern musical instruments.

Harry Haourari, Lincoln Center director of operations, after the March 20 performance of Shen Yun Performing Arts at the David Koch Theater in New York. (Xinxin Teng/The Epoch Times) — Harry Haourari, Lincoln Center director of operations, after the March 20 performance of Shen Yun Performing Arts at the David Koch Theater in New York. Xinxin Teng/The Epoch Times

“I really love the live orchestra, especially that moment when they introduced the conductor and everybody else. There’s nothing like music with a live orchestra,” he said. “I believe music is healing—if you take it deep in your heart and you listen, it’s really healing.”

This year, as Shen Yun is set to perform in over 200 cities around the world and across five continents, the 2025 touring season is shaping up to be the artists’ busiest yet and a glorious treat for theatergoers.

For New York City and nearby cities, including Albany and Schenectady, N.Y., Newark, N.J., and Philadelphia, Penn., theatergoers can book tickets by visiting ShenYun.com/tickets.

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