SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun Is Absolutely Beautiful and Spellbinding, Says Actress

Jan 17, 2025

PETERSBURG, Fla.—Christina Bickerstaff, an actress, writer, and board member of an arts initiative, attended Shen Yun’s evening performance at the Duke Energy Center for the Arts on Jan. 16. She’s excited to share with her friends and family just how amazing the show was.

“It was absolutely amazing. I didn’t realize that every single year [there’s a new program.] That’s so phenomenal because, of course, they have thousands of years of history to pull from. It was so beautiful and visceral—the costumes, the music. The audience was tangibly engaged at all times. This show was spellbinding,” Ms. Bickerstaff said.

“I love the way [the program] would flip back and forth in time to show you how the belief system is still the same. Regardless of the oppression, the faith lives on. It was absolutely beautiful and enlightened and inspiring.”

The New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts was founded in 2006 by elite Chinese artists who had fled the persecution of the communist party.

Endowed with 5,000 years of history, China was once known as the “Land of the Divine.” For millenniums, its people believed that by keeping their hearts pure and adhering to strict moral standards, they will be blessed by the divine.

Indeed, for 5,000 years, the country prospered. However, after the communist takeover and its spread of atheism, all this traditional culture was systematically destroyed. Today, the company’s mission is to bring back the beauty and goodness of pre-communist China.

Ms. Bickerstaff appreciated that Shen Yun addressed contemporary issues faced by people in present-day China. “I’m glad that the message is being brought to the masses so that the world can contemplate it, and we can all seek enlightenment,” she said.

Referring to the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution of the people of faith, she said, “It’s dreadful” and added that it’s “very brave what this show stands for.” She would like to commend the performers for their courage and how beautifully they carried out their message.

“The only part of the show that was a little bit of a slowdown was the intermission. Couldn’t wait for the second half, and I can’t wait to see next year’s [program.]”

Ms. Bickerstaff also thought Shen Yun’s live orchestra was outstanding. Since the dancers are so skilled and light on their feet, “you hear absolutely none of the footwork, so none of the music was obstructed.”

Using classical Western orchestration as the foundation, Shen Yun’s original compositions highlight traditional Chinese instruments such as the two-stringed erhu and the pipa—an ancient Chinese lute. Bringing to its audience the best of both worlds.

According to the company’s website, Shen Yun’s orchestra is the first in the world to permanently combine ancient Chinese and Western instruments.

For Ms. Bickerstaff, the performance brought her a lot of peace and she felt that feeling echoed throughout the theater.

“It was a remarkable show, and everyone seemed to have found some sense of Zen by the final curtain call. I occasionally would turn and people watch, and I could see the looks of recognition as they understood [the program] and as it resonated with them,” she said.

“Everyone seemed to be on the same page simultaneously and that is very rare in theater. That is absolutely, exponentially amazing.”

Shen Yun inspired Ms. Bickerstaff so much that she will definitely be heading back home to do some research and return the following year for more.

“I want to do my own follow up on that because it was so wonderful and so thought provoking. I haven’t had my fill,” she said.

“I absolutely will be back to see the next one. I’m so glad to know that every year is a different show. It’s my first time here, but a forever fan now.”

Reporting by Teng Dongyu and Jennifer Tseng.

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