SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun ‘Will Give Anybody Joy,’ Says Retired Professor

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Shen Yun ‘Will Give Anybody Joy,’ Says Retired Professor
Karen and Garin Kristinhess at the Shen Yun Performing Arts performance at George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater, on Feb. 21, 2023. Mary Mann/The Epoch Times

SALT LAKE CITY—Shen Yun Performing Arts took to the stage at the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater on Feb. 21 for the first of its six shows in Salt Lake City this season, with theatergoers reporting joy, surprise, and even hope for the world after the experience.

For microbiologist Charlotte Bowerbank, Shen Yun made her feel “like we are on the same page.”
“You know, sometimes, it is hard to feel everyone’s on the same page, even people in your own city or state,” Ms. Bowerbank said. But she felt a resonance with Shen Yun, “like that we have the same goal.”

It was a simple goal: “Be nice to each other, to love each other—care about each other.”

“To live God’s way, our Creator’s way. To just be kind to each other. And in the end, you know, we all go back with our Creator, right?” Ms. Bowerbank said.

Her goal was one that Chinese civilization shared for 5,000 years.
Shen Yun, based in New York, is the world’s top classical Chinese dance company and states its goal is to show “China before communism.”
Through music and dance, the artists aim to present the beauty and goodness of a culture once said to be divinely inspired. Spiritual teachings from Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism formed the foundation of the millennia-old civilization. People believed in a Creator, revered the heavens, and sought harmony between heaven, earth, and humankind.

Ms. Bowerbank, uplifted by the performance, left with a handful of pamphlets about Shen Yun, which she said she would be sharing with all her friends so as to encourage them to not miss such an experience.

“And I will come next year too, if they come back,” she said.

‘Beautiful, Inspiring, Entertaining’

Gordon Scott, a financial analyst, shared just how Shen Yun was living up to its name, meaning “the beauty of divine beings dancing.”

“I like the way that each one of the dances has a bit of a theme and an emotion that has a story element with it,” he said, adding that though he had no dance experience himself, “I can tell what they’re trying to do, and it comes through and it’s very inspiring.”

Gordon Scott and Ms. Bowerbank at the Shen Yun Performing Arts performance at George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater, on Feb. 21, 2023. (Yue Yi/The Epoch Times)
Gordon Scott and Ms. Bowerbank at the Shen Yun Performing Arts performance at George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater, on Feb. 21, 2023. Yue Yi/The Epoch Times

He felt “underlying spiritual themes being represented,” which the dancers conveyed.

“I really enjoy the idea that the divine comes through any person, especially those who try to follow and seek virtue. And in the dancers’ movements, you can see this ideal being demonstrated and advocated,” he said.

Like Ms. Bowerbank, he thought, “everybody should see it for sure; it’s well worth every bit they spent to come see [Shen Yun].”

“[It’s] beautiful, inspiring, and entertaining,” he said.

‘So Very Uplifting’

For the Browns, Shen Yun was equally uplifting and worthy of recommending.

“I wish them every success,” said Philip Brown, retired chemistry professor. “I'd advise everybody who can possibly do it to come and see it. I just think it’s so very uplifting. It will give anybody joy anytime they hear it.”

Annie Brown said she had already recommended their daughter, who agreed to see Shen Yun when its tour in Australia begins.

Philip and Annie Brown at the Shen Yun Performing Arts performance at George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater, on Feb. 21, 2023. (Lily Yu/The Epoch Times)
Philip and Annie Brown at the Shen Yun Performing Arts performance at George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater, on Feb. 21, 2023. Lily Yu/The Epoch Times

“We find with the Chinese people, they’re beautiful people and we know they are not the CCP (Chinese Communist Party),” Mrs. Brown added.

“[They were] beautiful, and the delicacy of the dancers was beautiful and the men and their masculinity coming through with their dance it was beautiful,” she said.

Mr. Brown felt he was uplifted by the visual and invisible beauty the dancers transmitted.

“I really enjoyed it. I thoroughly appreciated the spiritual thoughts behind it. I just agree with them,” he said. “That’s a great part of our life.”

Reporting by Yue Yi and Lily Yu.
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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