DALLAS—Eddie Hawkins said there were so many memorable moments in Shen Yun Performing Arts that it’s hard for him to point to any single item.
Still, he said, one thing that stood out to him was how “good overcomes evil” in many of the storylines in the dances.
“There were so many. It’s always good,” Mr. Hawkins, a manager at a healthcare facility, said after seeing Shen Yun at the T&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas on Jan. 6.
Shen Yun, based in New York, where it enjoys artistic freedom, presents story-based classical Chinese dance performances. The storylines, which are rich with timeless values, present the essence of Chinese culture.
The company aims to show China before communism.
“From the Yellow Emperor of antiquity to the splendor of the Tang Dynasty all the way to the exquisite elegance of the Qing, the lineage of Chinese civilization runs five millennia deep,” reads the Shen Yun website. “It is a story brimming with heroes real and imagined, their legacy preserved in tales of courage and sacrifice, integrity and loyalty, compassion and virtue.”
It adds that the ancient name of China, “The Land of the Divine,” tells of a “world where deities and mortals together walked the Earth.”
Stacy Hawkins, regional director of operations at a senior living organization, said she enjoyed seeing the “tradition” presented in Shen Yun, as well as the skills of the dancers.
“It was beautiful,” said Ms. Hawkins. “They are amazing athletes and amazing artists, all of them. Breathtaking.”
‘Very Uplifting’
Bill Dixon said Shen Yun is "very uplifting" after seeing the performance at the T&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas on Jan. 6, 2024. Yawen Hung/The Epoch Times
Bill Dixon, a retired Navy captain, said he really enjoyed seeing all the storylines in Shen Yun, as well as the dancers’ skills and the animated backdrops.
“It’s beautiful. Amazing skill, and the choreography, with everybody together and working as they do—it’s beautiful,” Mr. Dixon said. “And the story with the background on the screen, which just all flow together, is amazing. It really brings it almost a three-dimensional aspect, [with scenes] all the way back into the mountains or the hills or the room. So it really is beautiful.”
Adding to the experience is the fact that Shen Yun features a unique orchestra that seamlessly combines traditional Chinese instruments with classical Western instruments.
“You get the visual sights. You get the music. It’s very uplifting and very enjoyable,” said Mr. Dixon.
“I enjoy the stories, enjoy seeing what is there, and the depiction of it is really, quite good. Each one is individual and quite expressive.”
With reporting by Sherry Dong and Yawen Hung.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.
