SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun ‘Just Blew Me Away,’ Says Maine Theatergoer

Apr 02, 2025

4/2/2025Updated: 4/2/2025

PORTLAND, Maine—Company manager Marc Shaner and Jeannette Kuroly, a nurse, thought Shen Yun was stunningly beautiful when they attended the company’s evening show at the Merrill Auditorium on April 1.

“It was absolutely phenomenal. Absolutely amazing. Just blew me away,” Mr. Shaner said.

“I’m at a loss for words, the choreography, the dance, the music, the interaction with the screen in the background—it was flawless. I didn’t know what to expect and just absolutely beats all expectations.”

Shen Yun is the world’s top classical Chinese dance and music company. Presenting a brand-new set of programs each year, the company has been delighting audiences around the world since 2006.

In the decades since the communist regime seized power, Chinese culture was forced to the brink of extinction. These New York-based artists are now seeking to revive China’s 5,000 years of divinely inspired culture and showcase to the world the beauty of China before communism.

Mr. Shaner loved the large amount of history and traditional stories that were present throughout the performance.

“It was amazing. It was really neat to get a feel for ancient Chinese culture. It’s sad that it’s not allowed in current modern-day China,” he said.

Contrary to present-day communist China, the traditional China he witnessed through Shen Yun embraced “freedom of expression.”

“There was just more peace and helping each other out. Just seemed to be more happiness,” Ms. Kuroly added.

Though Shen Yun is well-beloved by audiences around the world, its dedication to reviving traditional culture and highlighting ongoing human rights issues in China has led the ruling regime to ban its performances within the country.

Reflecting on the artists’ story-based dance depicting the communist party’s persecution of the people of faith in China, Ms. Kuroly said, “It’s scary and depressing.”

“It seems like they’re in danger if they try to express how they feel. Their lives are in danger,” she stated.

Mr. Shaner emphasized that it’s important for people around the world know about this persecution because it “helps us appreciate what we have here” and serves as a warning to ensure “we don’t end up like that.”

Though this is the couple’s first time watching Shen Yun, they will be returning for more.

“Phenomenal is the word that comes to mind, and we would be happy to see it again sometime,” Mr. Shaner exclaimed. “Absolutely beautiful.”

Each year, Shen Yun presents a brand-new set of choreography and musical compositions, so both new and returning audience members are always in for a surprise.

Reporting by Nancy Ma 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.