SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun a ‘Special Insight’ Into China Before Communism: Professional Dancer

Mar 09, 2024

SYDNEY, Australia—Grace Lenan, a dancer who has performed on cruise ships around the world, said Shen Yun Performing Arts opened her eyes to “a whole history” of China before communism.

After experiencing a matinee performance by the New York-based Shen Yun at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre on March 9, Ms. Lenan said she gained “a really special insight” into China’s 5,000 years of traditional culture “that I didn’t even know was available.”

“For myself, I’ve grown up knowing China, what it is right now, and the amount of education or exposure I’ve had to what it is right now,” she said, referring to the country currently under communist rule.

“But there clearly has been a whole history and a whole experience of people that has happened so far before that,” she added. “And I think learning where things come from is so important. So I think it’s a really special insight into [something] that I didn’t even know was available.”

Shen Yun was formed in 2006 by elite dancers with a mission to restore China’s authentic culture before the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) took steps to destroy it when it came to power in 1949.

This goal of cultural renaissance is “absolutely” important, Ms. Lenan said.

Shen Yun was a visual delight for Ms. Lenan, who has spent the last 10 years performing globally at Tokyo Disneyland, on Princess Cruises and Crystal Cruises, as well as at the “Crazy Paris Show” in Macau.

A fan of live theatre and with her professional background, Ms. Lenan expressed her appreciation for Shen Yun crafting an all-new production every year.

“Something else that really stood out to me was learning about what ‘Shen Yun’ means, and the history behind it,” Ms. Lenan said.

According to the company, “Shen Yun” means the beauty of divine beings dancing. It relates to bearing, or how a dancer moves and carries themselves.

“For me, I’m like, oh, that’s exactly how I feel when I watch a performer perform. That was really beautiful and special,” she added.

Classical Chinese dance, which is at the heart of the performance, is an incredibly expressive and athletic dance form that is able to convey inner meaning through movement no matter the language barrier, according to the company.

Shen Yun is different from other shows Ms. Lenan has seen, offering what she described as a “spiritual message” about having the freedom to “express yourself” in the face of communist tyranny in modern-day China.

“I love the visuals of it. I think those are very unique to this company, in my experience,” said Ms. Lenan, noting the “exquisite” use of fabric and colors in the costumes.

“It brings a lot of magic like into the show,” she added.

John Bowers, a retired British Army officer, attends Shen Yun Performing Arts at Capitol Theatre in Sydney, Australia, on March 9, 2024. (NTD) — John Bowers, a retired British Army officer, attends Shen Yun Performing Arts at Capitol Theatre in Sydney, Australia, on March 9, 2024. NTD

Shen Yun Is ‘Divine Inspiration,’ Says Retired British Army Officer

Shen Yun received high praise from a former British Army officer who attended the matinée on March 9.

“This was a magnificent show tonight, very honored to be here,” said John Bowers, who has been to Shen Yun performances four times in the last several years.

“It was a magnificent performance. I congratulate you. The choreography, the dancing, the sheer agility of the men and the ladies, the classical dance routine, brilliant, the lighting, the background. I congratulate all who performed this to a very high standard. Well done.”

Mr. Bowers, who expressed his rejection of the “absurd” concept that humans evolved from animals, praised Shen Yun for its message that all life and culture originated from a divine Creator.

“Unfortunately, we are high bound and oppressed with evolutionary concepts these days,” he said, commending Shen Yun for declaring humanity’s divine origins.

Mr. Bowers said that Shen Yun is “divine inspiration” and the performance is “characterized by great beauty, which praises the Creator.”

“And I think that’s a magnificent thing,” he added.

China was known as the land of the divine, “reflecting the belief that its glorious culture was brought down from above,” according to Shen Yun. However, faith is an ideological threat to the CCP.

Mr. Bowers said that it is “vital to stand against the communist system.”

Svetlana Katelas, an artist, attends Shen Yun Performing Arts at Capitol Theatre in Sydney, Australia, on March 9, 2024. (NTD) — Svetlana Katelas, an artist, attends Shen Yun Performing Arts at Capitol Theatre in Sydney, Australia, on March 9, 2024. NTD

‘I Feel Like I’m Flying’—Artist Praises Shen Yun

Svetlana Katelas, an artist who paints realistic portraits of people and animals, declared that Shen Yun was “absolutely magnificent” when she attended the matinee on March 9.

“Oh gosh. I feel like I’m flying like this beautiful performance. Absolutely magnificent and unbelievable story behind every dance,” Ms. Katelas said.

“My friend and I—were just stunned by dancing and singing, and you know, beautiful colours. Costumes are unbelievable,” she added.

Ms. Katelas, who purchased tickets after seeing images of Shen Yun online, said the performance exceeded her expectations.

“We even had some tears, you know, looking at a performance, with a sad context. Yes, and photographs can’t judge the real performance,” she said.

The artist was referring to a dance story that depicts the realities of Chinese people, particularly Falun Dafa (Falun Gong) adherents living under communist tyranny in modern-day China.

Falun Dafa is a spiritual practice steeped in Buddhist tradition, whose adherents strive to live by the tenets of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance, and practice mediation.

The CCP has persecuted Falun Dafa since 1999. In fact, a number of Shen Yun’s performers have escaped communist tyranny.

Shen Yun shares China’s history and culture from ancient times to the modern day.

“I’ve learnt a lot today. I didn’t know much about Chinese culture like [a] musical instrument, I’ve never heard it,” Ms. Ketelas said, referring to the erhu (two-stringed Chinese instrument) performance by a virtuoso.

“It’s a beautiful sound, and also I didn’t know that actually flips and other acrobatic moves come from Chinese classical dance. That was a big surprise for me. What else can I say—I’m very impressed,” she added.

Reporting by NTD and Caden Pearson.

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