SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun Opens to Full House at Lincoln Center in NYC

Mar 26, 2025

3/26/2025Updated: 3/27/2025

NEW YORK CITY—Shen Yun Performing Arts brought 5,000 years to life on stage at Lincoln Center, stirring audiences new and returning alike during its opening night performance on March 26. The world-renowned classical Chinese dance company started its run of 2 1/2 weeks in New York City before a full house.

Charles Nader, CEO of a health care company, said he was moved by the stories he saw in Shen Yun’s performance, which presented ancient and modern-day tales that almost made him shed a tear. This was the first time Mr. Nader and his wife, Enly Tammela, had attended Shen Yun.

“I would say old Chinese culture has beautiful principles to it,” Mr. Nader said. “There’s a lot of value in old traditions, and we shouldn’t forget that love is still the inspiration.”

Ms. Tammela said the performance was full of inspiration.

“Oh, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful ... this show, to me, gives positive energy,” said Ms. Tammela, a model and entrepreneur.

New York-based Shen Yun is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance company, with a mission to show audiences “China before communism.”

“It’s beautiful,” Ms. Tammela said. “Unexpected. The colors, the music, the dancers, the whole package together, it’s just ... super wonderful. Positive emotions, honestly.

“It really inspired me,” she added, “to follow your dreams and to learn, and be inspired and move forward.”

Charles Nader and Enly Tammela enjoyed Shen Yun at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City on March 26, 2025. (Sherry Dong/The Epoch Times) — Charles Nader and Enly Tammela enjoyed Shen Yun at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City on March 26, 2025. Sherry Dong/The Epoch Times

Also in the audience was lawyer Steve Pesner, who said he has made it a point to see Shen Yun every year for the past seven seasons or so.

“It’s always excellent,” said Mr. Pesner, who is a trustee of several major classical ballet organizations. “Their movement is almost unbelievable. The costumes are nice, even though I’m not a costume fan. And the variety is very, very interesting. I think all dance fans should come and see it.”

Mr. Pesner said he used to always attend Shen Yun with his wife, but she recently passed. This year, he went with close family friends with whom his wife often used to attend. As a serious dance aficionado, he said he hoped more dance fans would be able to see Shen Yun.

“I think the love of their country and its history is something that should be spread out,” Mr. Pesner said.

Shen Yun also attracted those who wanted to learn more about authentic traditional Chinese culture.

Pierre Brouwers, a documentary filmmaker, traveled to China for a film a few years ago. He brought his son to see Shen Yun to better understand traditional Chinese culture and the current communist regime that has sought to destroy it.

“Very educational,” Mr. Brouwers said. He noted that he was born in 1949 and remembers Mao Zedong and the rise of communism.

“It’s very interesting to see the story of the tradition, the history of China,” he said.

Pierre Brouwers and his son enjoyed Shen Yun at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City on March 26, 2025. (Sally Sun/The Epoch Times) — Pierre Brouwers and his son enjoyed Shen Yun at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City on March 26, 2025. Sally Sun/The Epoch Times

“It’s just very, very well done. The show is really fantastic. All the performers, the comedian, the singers, the dancers—absolutely fantastic.”

This culture was new for Hank Tucker and Maria LeMaire, who said they learned about traditional Chinese culture and the communist regime’s attempt to suppress it through Shen Yun.

“The storyline is really great,” said Mr. Tucker, who owns a medical device business. “Learning something about an art form that they try to shut ... down, and they bring it here and do it. ... I think it’s great.”

He said that after seeing the performance, he had a “much, much better idea” of Chinese culture.

Ms. LeMaire was seeing Shen Yun for a second time and was introducing it to Tucker. She said the stories were beautiful and moving, and made an impression.

“I like the way they’re spreading the message by doing it this way,” she said. “It’s very subtle, but I think it makes a big impact. And it’s visual, so we kind of remember it all. The show itself is breathtaking. They’re beautiful. The costumes are beautiful. And you can see the dedication in all of them. They’re committed.”

Ms. LeMaire noted that the artists were brave for their commitment not only to art, but also to their mission in the face of continued oppression from the Chinese communist regime.

“They’re being incredibly brave in the face of opposition from many people, and they’re still willing to put themselves out there,“ she said. ”And so it’s an incredible production, and it’s an incredible story. I think everybody should be aware and definitely come and see it.”

Shen Yun’s cultural accomplishments were perhaps all the more impressive to its Chinese audience members, some of whom said they had never seen China’s cultural legacy displayed like this before.

“I’m really moved, I can feel that China’s cultural heritage, its 5,000-year legacy, was actually passed down,” said Liu Jianhuang, who immigrated to the United States from China two years ago.

“It also lets us, people who came from China, really understand how the Chinese communist regime has persecuted people of faith,” he said. “In China, so many people have suffered all sorts of persecution, and with revolutions like the Cultural Revolution, the traditional culture, faith, and kindness were nearly destroyed.

“This [Shen Yun] gives us Chinese people hope.”

With reporting by Sherry Dong, Sally Sun, and Catherine Yang.

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