SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun Gives People Hope, Say Baltimore Theatergoers

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Shen Yun Gives People Hope, Say Baltimore Theatergoers
Gregory Wolodkewitsch and Crystal Avey enjoyed Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore, Md., on March 15, 2025. Frank Liang /The Epoch Times
Epoch Newsroom
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BALTIMORE—Gregory Wolodkewitsch, a government planner, and Crystal Avey, an IT manager, watched Shen Yun Performing Arts at The Hippodrome Theatre on March 15.

“I loved the different stories that it told,” Ms. Avey said. “The music was beautiful and the dance was spectacular.”

“Culturally, it’s just a beautiful experience,” Mr. Wolodkewitsch said.

New York-based Shen Yun is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company. Since its inception in 2006, Shen Yun’s mission has been to revive traditional Chinese culture and show audiences the beauty of “China before communism.”

“I love the culture and the storylines,” said Mr. Wolodkewitsch, who was most impressed by “the choreography and the timing.”

Among Shen Yun’s story-based dances are stories set in modern-day China that depict the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution of followers of faith. Ms. Avey said that she had known some of what was happening before seeing the performance, yet was still deeply affected when seeing the depiction.

“It’s very important because I don’t think it’s well known throughout the world,” Ms. Avey said. “We just got a taste of it today. We don’t even know how deep it is. We just got a taste, but it’s very important to get the word out and let people be aware of what’s taking place.”

Due to Shen Yun’s depictions of the persecution as well as the spiritual elements of traditional Chinese culture, Shen Yun is not allowed to perform in China.

“Not being able to perform what you just saw in your own country—that’s a shame,” Ms. Avey said.

Ms. Avey felt that Shen Yun’s performance was a way of  “sharing experiences, with others, other cultures, [and] other religions.”

“It’s therapeutic. ... I do feel like it gives people hope,” Ms. Avey said, a sentiment Mr. Wolodkewitsch shared.

“Hopefully they'll be able to perform in their home country,” Mr. Wolodkewitsch added.

Reporting by Frank Liang and Wandi Zhu.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.
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