SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun’s Mission to Bring Divinity Back to the World Is so Important, Says Alabama Theatergoer

Mar 16, 2025

3/16/2025Updated: 3/16/2025

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—Traditional Chinese medicine practitioner Constantine Sardelis and Dallas Dominique, a wellness coach and creative designer, had a wonderful time at Shen Yun Performing Arts’ evening show on March 15, at the BJCC Concert Hall. The duo had waited years for the experience, and the performance exceeded all their expectations.

“It’s amazing. [Shen Yun] was very colorful and beautiful, and it really brings some culture to the South. …We need more of that,” Mr. Sardelis said. “We'll definitely be coming back to see it again. ... Everything was very impressive.”

He was amazed by “how in unison everybody was, how colorful, and how deep the stories were.”

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

For 5,000 years, China’s civilization flourished under the shared belief that the divine will bless those who uphold traditional moral values. Tragically, within just a few decades of the communist party’s violent takeover, these beliefs were erased and replaced with atheism.

The goal of Shen Yun artists is to return to the world’s stage—the glory and beauty of China’s 5,000 years of divinely inspired culture.

Ms. Dominique is moved by the performers’ mission and thought their portrayal of the divine was beautiful. Shen Yun’s “ reminder of the divinity and bringing that back to the world is so important,” she said.

The performance is made up of a series of short pieces that take its audience on a ride through the dynasties and across the vast regions of China. Using classical Chinese, folk, and ethnic dances, as well as solo musical performances, the artists tell tales from ancient times to the modern day.

Ms. Dominique especially enjoyed the story-based dance recounting the origin story of the Chinese Valentine.

“I love the story of the farmer and the fairy. That was special, really beautiful. It really stood out and was meaningful. It touched my heart,” she praised. “Precious. The imagery and the costume creation—just wow. So much flow and aesthetic and spirit coming through.”

Mr. Sardelis, too, enjoyed every program and couldn’t decide a favorite. He will be recommending the performance to all his friends and family.

“I would say that [Shen Yun] is a good representation of what has been lost because since the Cultural Revolution, so much has been lost,” he reflected.

“I think it’s a beautiful way to remember our past and how valuable that was, and how enriching it can be even today for us to have these examples. I would definitely see it again.”

Reporting by Sonia Wu 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.