SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Vancouver Audience Loves the Expression of Freedom in Shen Yun

Mar 24, 2023

VANCOUVER, Canada—Dance and music together can express emotions that perhaps even words cannot. Thankfully in the West, Shen Yun Performing Arts is able to portray a truth that really matters.

“There’s an incredible spiritual undertone in this particular show that I love. The fact that they can come here on this platform and show that and express that to the crowd shows a completely different side. It’s great to see the freedom of their expression in dance,” said Liane Schild.

Shen Yun is based in New York, and it is dedicated to presenting China’s 5,000 years of civilization. China, before communism, was a place steeped in spirituality.

“It shows a softer, human side of Chinese culture that I think is getting wiped out these days on the media. Everything you see and read is so negative,” said Warren Saari, Ms. Schild’s partner, a CEO at a communications company.

The stories in Shen Yun come from Chinese literature, history, and mythology.

“It’s an eye-opener. It’s beautiful. I love how it tells a story. The dancers are incredible,” said Ms. Schild.

One of the dances depicts the Creator descending to earth, thus commencing a brilliant civilization.

“There is a creator. It’s nice to see. I’ve been to China before. I didn’t witness any of that,” said Mr. Saari.

Another story that Shen Yun depicts is of Falun Gong practitioners who live by the principles of truth, compassion, and forbearance. Yet the growing popularity of Falun Gong in the late 1990s was seen as a threat by the Chinese Communist Party, and on July 20, 2000, the CCP launched a persecution of the practitioners of Falun Gong.

“I was surprised to see the sort of modern-day ... persecution in China. I wasn’t expecting that. It’s very troubling,” said Mr. Saari.

Due to Shen Yun showing the true side of the CCP, Shen Yun is not able to perform in China.

“I think it’s so important to be able to express your freedom in speech, express your freedom in dance, and show your faith and your spiritualism. It’s unfortunate that it’s compressed and not allowed. I’m so happy that they’re able to not only come here and put on this amazing show but allow us to see and understand that part of it,” said Ms. Schild.

Shen Yun’s dancers are trained in Classical Chinese dance. This dance form has thousands of years of history, and it is where athletics such as gymnastics and acrobatics originate from.

“I love the artisticness of the whole program. The dancers are fantastic. They work in unison and the stories that they tell and the beauty in their dance is just amazing,” said Ms. Schild.

“It’s very good. They’re very fit young people. I love the long sleeves,” said Mr. Saari.

Shen Yun’s choreographers and composers work closely to create dances that can express emotions and tells stories.

“You are incredible, amazing. The work that I’m sure goes into the choreography shows your dedication, your passion, and thank you for sharing it with us,” said Ms. Schild.

Reporting by Lily Yu and Maria Han.

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