(Minghui.org) From May 3 to 8, 2022, Shen Yun Performing Arts presented a total of 32 performances in nine cities in Australia, Mexico, France, Germany, and the United States.
The Shen Yun New York Company at a packed house at the Palais des Congrès de Paris in Paris, France, on May 7, 2022. After the Shen Yun Global Company performed in Paris earlier this year, with four performances January 14–16 and seven performances March 1–5, the Shen Yun New York Company returned to Paris with seven performances May 5–13. (The Epoch Times)
The Shen Yun International Company at a packed house at the Home of the Arts in Gold Coast, Australia, on May 6. The company presented four performances in Gold Coast May 6–8, all to packed houses with the weekend afternoon performances sold out. (The Epoch Times)
The Shen Yun World Company at the sold-out performance at the Festspielhaus Neuschwanstein in Fuessen, Germany, on the afternoon of May 7. The company presented six performances in Fuessen May 4–8. (The Epoch Times)
The Shen Yun Touring Company presented five performances at the Conjunto Santande Artes Escenicas, Universidad de Guadalajara, in Guadalajara, Mexico, May 6–8, all to packed houses. (NTD Television)
The Shen Yun Global Company at the sold-out performance at the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts in Northridge, California, on May 3. The company presented two sold-out performances in Northridge May 3–4. (The Epoch Times)
The Shen Yun Global Company at the sold-out performance at the Terrace Theater in Long Beach, California, on May 8. The company presented three sold-out performances in Long Beach May 7–8. (The Epoch Times)
Shen Yun Touring Company Arrives in Mexico
The Shen Yun Touring Company arrived in Guadalajara, Mexico, on May 5 to kick off the company’s 2022 five-city, 17-show Mexico tour. The artists were welcomed by local fans with flowers and warm applause. (NTD Television)
Bella Fan, principal dancer with the Shen Yun Touring Company. (The Epoch Times)
Principal dancer Bella Fan told the media that Shen Yun is bringing back the true, traditional culture, the divinely-inspired culture. “We show our inner world. The performance shows Buddhas, Daos, heavenly beings, and the heavens. It is a presentation that comes from our heart. It is completely different from the deceit, vice, violence, and atheism promoted by the CCP [Chinese Communist Party],” Ms. Fan said.
“Because we all practice Falun Dafa, we have very strict standards for ourselves. We require the elevation of our inner world... We just do well on what we’re supposed to do – dancing, and focus on dancing. This is why our dance is pure,” she said.
Sam Pu, principal dancer with the Shen Yun Touring Company and a star of YouTube channel, “3 Musketeers.” (The Epoch Times)
For Sam Pu, a principal dancer with the Shen Yun Touring Company and a star of the YouTube channel, “3 Musketeers,” this was his fifth time performing in Mexico. “After a two-year delay due to the pandemic, we’re finally here, so I feel very emotional,” he said.
Regarding how a number of audience members mentioned that their body and mind gained elevation after seeing the performance, Mr. Pu discussed Shen Yun’s high requirements for performers’ character.
“The teachers have said to us, learn to be a person before you learn art. Since dance is a kind of art of the body, your personal moral character will also show through your art. That’s why the audiences can also feel high moral depth in it.”
Speaking of Shen Yun’s special dance form and bearing that gained accolades from many audience members, Mr. Pu said, “Shen Yun’s special technique of ‘body leads the hands, hips lead the legs’ was personally imparted by the Artistic Director, Mr. D.F. It’s been lost for a long time. Through this technique, the movements are stretched longer, stronger, and the dance would be more beautiful. So the audience can even more so enjoy the deeper meaning of the dances.”
Nika Zhang, concertmaster with the Shen Yun Touring Company. (The Epoch Times)
“We’re very excited to be here. So we hope that our audiences are also really excited to see us. And we hope that after they watch the show, they can walk out feeling more hopeful and more happy about the future,” said Nika Zhang, concertmaster with the Shen Yun Touring Company.
Kentucky Elected Officials Welcome Shen Yun
Prior to Shen Yun’s performances in Richmond, Kentucky, on May 7 and 8, the performing arts company received a number of welcoming remarks from local elected officials.
Governor Andy Beshear and Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman wrote in a welcome letter, “Congratulations to the Shen Yun Performing Arts company on 15 years of bringing these ancient legends to life. These stunning performances cannot be seen anywhere else in the world—not even in China. Shen Yun provides a much-needed cultural revival for the Commonwealth, too, as we slowly and safely return to usual activities.” (The Epoch Times)
Robert Stivers, President of the Kentucky Senate, also issued welcoming remarks to Shen Yun, wishing them success in their performances in the Bluegrass State. (Kentucky General Assembly’s website)
Kentucky Speaker of the House David Osborne and Representative Attica Scott wrote in a Citation of Celebration, “Based in New York, Shen Yun takes its audience on a journey through 5,000 years of Chinese culture through the universal languages of music and dance, evoking themes of virtue, compassion, and courage, and including an inspiring orchestral performance of music from both the East and the West.” (The Epoch Times)
State Representative Deanna Frazier Gordon wrote in her letter of welcome, “The one-of-a-kind orchestra and combination of Eastern and Western instruments is truly extraordinary. This will be an amazing show for Madison County residents to enjoy.” (The Epoch Times)
State Senator Ralph Alvarado wrote in his letter to welcome Shen Yun, “Please accept my appreciation and sincere thanks for your willingness to collaborate with the Kentucky Falun Dafa Association to help the public understand the traditional Chinese culture and arts, and for your promotion of a cross-cultural understanding of classical Chinese dance performances.” (The Epoch Times)
Madison County Judge Executive, Reagan Taylor, wrote, “We wish you much success in all of your performances and invite you to enjoy all that Madison County, Kentucky has to offer and visit again soon.” (The Epoch Times)
Additionally, Robert R. Blythe, Mayor of Richmond, called Shen Yun “a show that nourishes the soul,” and State Senator Brandon D. Smith wrote, “this celebrated troupe is offered sincere commendation and gratitude for extending this unique opportunity to our citizenry; is extended sincere best wishes that their stay in the Bluegrass State is both fruitful and filled with hospitality.”
“An Absolutely Amazing Night”
Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor Paul Antonio at the Shen Yun performance in Toowoomba, Australia, on May 3. (NTD Television)
Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor Paul Antonio saw Shen Yun in Toowoomba, Australia, on May 3.
“It was an absolutely amazing night... I congratulate [Shen Yun] on the standard. And of course our beautiful Empire Theatre here in Toowoomba has great value to us historically... and we are so proud to have you here,” said Mayor Antonio.
“The standard tonight was so high and it was so entertaining... That’s the very reason the Empire Theatre tonight was packed,” he said.
He described the Shen Yun experience as “surprising,” adding, “I could recommend it to anybody.”
Speaking of Shen Yun’s mission of reviving the almost lost culture of China, Mayor Antonio said that traditional Chinese culture is “well worth preserving.”
“A Beautiful, Inspiring Event”
Rainer Bartesch at the Shen Yun performance in Fuessen, Germany, on May 6. (NTD Television)
Composer Rainer Bartesch saw Shen Yun in Fuessen, Germany, on May 6.
“[I] of course liked Shen Yun a lot... Well, the orchestra was a familiar sound for me, meaning the mixture of Asian or Chinese instruments and the European instruments. It fits together perfectly – a great selection... I also make film music and in film music, it is also the case that you often bring in elements from different cultures,” Mr. Bartesch said.
“I bought an Erhu in Berlin and I also think Chinese things are great. I really like the Beijing Orchestra and the Beijing Opera, the very original things,” he said.
In the artist’s eyes, the interplay of Western and Eastern music by Shen Yun is entertaining, understandable and “of course also great for underlining the action on stage, the mood and the dynamics,” he said.
“I really liked it – also how the sound was mixed and the balance, the efficiency, great!
“For me, the most touching moment was the erhu player. It was so amazing! She was perfect. It was just a dream. Such skill on the instrument. The intonation was so pure and it was played with such virtuosity – it was just so effortless. It was a great, great experience for me!” he said.
Mr. Bartesch was also very familiar with the spiritual aspects that Shen Yun conveyed to the audience. “The idea that man is a being who is not only flesh but also has a spirit and carries a divine spark within him is also my idea. I don’t like it when people are reduced to function or machine-like. So for me, the human being is always a cultural, a spiritual, an emotional being,” he said.
Referring to the piece that showed the CCP’s crime of harvesting organs from Falun Dafa practitioners, he said, “Of course I support the project as it is, for humanity and also for spirituality.”
“It was a beautiful, inspiring event, a beautiful evening,” he concluded.
“Marvelous” and “Extremely Engaging”
Roberto Dell'Oro at the Shen Yun performance in Long Beach, California, on May 7. (NTD Television)
Roberto Dell'Oro, the director of the Bioethics Institute and a professor in the Department of Theological Studies at Loyola Marymount University, saw Shen Yun in Long Beach, California, on May 7.
“Marvelous. Marvelous from an aesthetic point of view, from the point of view of the beauty of the colors, and extremely engaging from the point of view of the narrative,” Mr. Dell'Oro said.
“I’m enjoying everything about the show. First of all, the sheer physical aspect of the dance. But also the balance between the physicality and, I would say, the expressiveness of the dance. I’m also understanding a little bit more about the underlying philosophy of the dance. Very close of a relation that seems to exist between the dances and the background. Many times, natural background. So the fact that the dances try to express the way of nature to an extent, which is a way of harmony, a way of peace, a way of coexistence.
Speaking of the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance demonstrated in the performance, he said, “Absolutely, they’re very relevant. Because we live in a world of competition, in a world in which the attempt to overcome each other, in a way to fail to accept each other and to bear each other’s presence. But I think it’s also a message against a way of life in which what is natural is being perverted. And so in that sense, there’s a lack of harmony... For example, bring to an excess the presence of technology. So I think that might be something important to stress as well,” he said.
“It’s Something That Should Not Be Missed”
Jeffrey Doucette at the Shen Yun performance in Providence, Rhode Island, on May 8. (The Epoch Times)
Jeffrey Doucette, a retired diplomat, saw Shen Yun in Providence, Rhode Island, on May 8. He has seen Shen Yun before. This time, he traveled all the way from California just to see the performance with his mother on Mother’s Day.
“The [performance] is great—the artistry, the costumes, the colors... the set design, everything... The preciseness of all the movements and the coordination I think is just terrific,” said Mr. Doucette, who formerly worked in the U.S. Embassy in Paris.
“[The] quality is unsurmountable. I mean, everything is just spot on... I usually go around the country and see it when it’s performing in different places.
“It’s just very uplifting, especially when I think... of COVID and what we’re going through right now. It’s upbeat, it’s soothing, it’s relaxing,” he said.
Mr. Doucette said that for him, Shen Yun expresses the very spiritual nature of ancient Chinese culture. He also appreciated the use of backdrops to translate the lyrics sung by the solo vocalists in the performance.
Shen Yun’s mission to revive the authentic Chinese culture from the pre-communist era is praiseworthy, the former diplomat said. “It’s wonderful. I mean... showing what it was like before communist China gives... people, especially in America, a good perception of the thousands of years that the Chinese culture has brought and maintained,” he said.
“It’s one of a kind. I think it rivals all the art... that you can see in any part of the U.S. wherever you go. It’s something that should not be missed,” he said.
“An Extra Brightness to Both the Reality and the Future”
Jean-Claude Bernard at the Shen Yun performance in Paris on May 7. (The Epoch Times)
Jean-Claude Bernard, the owner of the hotel, Hôtel Le Cep, saw Shen Yun with family in Paris on May 7.
“I think we have special privilege to be able to see a performance like this,” Mr. Bernard said.
“Shen Yun’s music brought us to another world. It’s very penetrating and deep. With the beautiful fusion of classical instruments and traditional Chinese instruments, I think it brought a deeper level.
“That’s why I say we’re very lucky to be able to see Shen Yun, because this kind of show can’t be performed in China. So, here, where it’s open like this, to be able to share an ancient culture can add an extra brightness to both the reality and the future,” he said.
“A Greater Appreciation of Eastern Culture”
Ben Cox at the Shen Yun performance in Gold Coast, Australia, on May 6. (NTD Television)
Ben Cox, the CEO of the Gold Coast Hospital Foundation, saw Shen Yun in Gold Coast, Australia, on May 6.
“I think it’s so important that when we look at the future, we look back to our past. And I think the artists in Shen Yun who are honoring what happened in the past [are] helping us understand that and learn to be better in our future from what we can learn from the past. It’s so very important,” Mr. Cox said.
“The Monkey King tells a great story about us to be humble. To understand what is important in the world, beyond ourself and beyond our own ego. And I think that’s a great lesson now and into generations in the future.
“I think I’ll walk away with a greater appreciation of Eastern culture, and how close the values, how close the culture is to our own. And how we can be better people by understanding the world around us,” he said.
“Splendid, Colorful, and Full of Joy”
Frank Millot, his wife Nathalie, and their son at the Shen Yun performance in Paris on May 8. (The Epoch Times)
Parisian entrepreneur Frank Millot, his wife, painter Nathalie Millot, and their 12-year-old son saw Shen Yun in Paris on May 8.
Mr. Millot said that human beings should return to traditional culture. “If we return to all this, it may be very good,” he said.
They admired the pure beauty of traditional Chinese values displayed by Shen Yun. “These are the values that should be promoted in today’s world,” Mr. Millot said.
“This performance is splendid, colorful, and full of joy!” he said.
“This is a long and distant civilization that has made great contributions to human beings in many ways! I think that China, which has a history of thousands of years, has a lot of things that our society can learn from today, there is no doubt about it,” he said.
He also felt the values of kindness and benevolence in the performance. “I think the values of kindness are being forgotten. I think these are the values that should be implemented internationally.”
Mrs. Millot said that as a painter, she is determined to leave art and culture to children, so she did some research on ancient China and became fascinated by traditional Chinese culture. “I love everything about Gu Huaxia (ancient China) in the show,” she said.
Nathalie praised the live ensemble as “a fusion of Western and traditional Chinese musical instruments, which is melodious and charming.”
The erhu solo was her favorite: “That kind of music is refreshing and very beautiful,” she said.
At the end, Mr. Millot thanked Shen Yun for bringing them such a wonderful performance. “We had a wonderful time here, and we will definitely come to watch the performance again next year,” he said.
Upcoming Performances
Shen Yun continues its 2022 tour with upcoming performances in Mexico City, Mexico, May 13–15; Brno, Czech Republic, May 14–15; Lublin, Poland, May 17–19; Adelaide, Australia, May 13–15; Costa Mesa, California, May 14–22; Wichita, Kansas, May 14–15; and West Palm Beach, Florida, May 17–18.
For more information on tickets and dates, please visit https://shenyun.com.
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