(Minghui.org) Seven of Shen Yun Performing Arts’ touring companies presented 40 performances in eleven cities in France, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States, from January 25 to February 2.
Texas House of Representatives Passes Resolution Naming “Shen Yun Day”
On January 29, Texas House of Representatives passed resolution HR 72 to officially name January 29, 2025, which is Chinese New Year in 2025, as “Shen Yun Day.”
Texas House of Representatives passed resolution HR 72 to officially name January 29, 2025, as “Shen Yun Day.”
(Left to right) Texas State Representatives Tom Oliverson (District 130) and Steve Toth (District 15), authors of HR 72; and Texas State Rep. Briscoe Cain (District 128)
State Representatives Tom Oliverson said at the House proceeding, “Today we are recognizing 19 years of Shen Yun’s dedication to reviving and sharing the beauty of traditional Chinese culture through classical dance and music.”
“My wife dragged me to Shen Yun last Christmas and I was deeply moved. And I really feel like every high school kid in the United States should see Shen Yun,” State Representative Steve Toth said. “I thought I was going to see just beautiful ballet but what I got is a history lesson of the beauty of the Chinese culture and what communism has done to destroy it.”
Rep. Oliverson said at an interview, “I think Texas is all about freedom and free expression. I know that Shen Yun cares a lot about traditional Chinese values and culture. So we see Shen Yun being in a position to help Americans and also Chinese to remember their culture and heritage pre-communism. That’s a very important legacy. I think Texans uniquely understand the importance of that. It’s who we are as Texans, as our history and our heritage.”
At an interview, State Representative Briscoe Cain said, Shen Yun “shines a light on how communism really, quite simply, kills. It kills dreams, kills hopes, kills families. It just destroys everything and concentrates power. But Shen Yun, and the movement behind it, stands for this premise that the people are free. And when allowed to pursue their dreams, great things happen; communities are lifted up and people prosper.”
Shen Yun New York Company Received at Senate of Italy
On January 31, Shen Yun New York Company received a welcome reception from Italian senators at the Senate of Italy in Rome, followed by a tour of the historic senate chamber.
The invitation was extended by Senator Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata, president of the Senate’s EU Affairs Committee and former Italian Foreign Minister.
Also attending the reception were Senator Cinzia Pellegrino, head of Rome’s Department for the Protection of Party Victims, City Councilor Federico Rocca, and Matteo Angioli, Secretary-General of the Global Committee for the Rule of Law (GCRL), among others.
Shen Yun New York Company received a warm welcome reception at the Italian Senate on January 31 (The Epoch Times)
Senator Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata, President of the Senate’s EU Affairs Committee and former Italian Foreign Minister, welcomed Shen Yun artists to the Senate on January 31. (The Epoch Times)
During the 2025 season, Shen Yun will present nearly 300 performances in at least 61 cities across 14 European countries, reaching an audience of 600,000—an unprecedented scale. Terzi described this as a remarkable success in cultural diplomacy.
“This is something truly extraordinary,” he said, attributing Shen Yun’s widespread appeal to its presentation of culture, humanity, values, historical knowledge, and China’s 5,000-year civilization. “You represent beauty, you represent the divinity of the human being, and dance is the perfect expression of all this.”
He also noted that Shen Yun’s artists are practitioners of Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline based on the principles of truth, compassion, and forbearance. He described it as “a movement of peace, truth, freedom—an elevation of character and a search for the inner spirit, the inner dimension of the human being.”
The visit took place just days after Chinese New Year, and Terzi extended New Year’s greetings to the artists.
Terzi also presented a gift to Shen Yun, with principal dancer Angelia Wang accepting it on behalf of the company.
“From Tokyo to Paris, over the years, Shen Yun has brought the thousand-year-old traditional Chinese culture to the world through colorful dance, are enjoying great success,” Terzi stated in a January 31 press release after the visit, ahead of Shen Yun’s February 1 opening night performance in Rome. “Tomorrow, Shen Yun will perform in Rome, where all six shows have completely sold out.”
Terzi described the performance as a perfect example of “cultural diplomacy,” using art and beauty as a medium to share universal values. “Shen Yun is the bearer of a universal message of harmony, respect, and above all freedom,” he stated.
Shen Yun Honored with Rome Birthday Commemorative Medal
At the performance in Rome on February 1, Rome City Councilor Federico Rocca honored the performers with the Rome Birthday Commemorative Medal, an esteemed gift created annually to celebrate the city’s founding—a symbol of Rome’s rich history and cultural legacy. Mr. Rocca had received authorization from the mayor to present the medal to Shen Yun on behalf of the City of Rome.
Rome City Councilor Federico Rocca honored Shen Yun performers with the Rome Birthday Commemorative Medal on February 1. (The Epoch Times)
Mr. Rocca said of the performance, “We need performances like this. Shen Yun brings positive energy, hope, and the ideal of peaceful coexistence. I believe this show is beneficial for the world today because, from my perspective, our society has become materialistic.”
“What struck me the most was the soprano’s singing. When I read the translation of the lyrics, I could better grasp the message—it guides us to look toward something higher. I believe this is an extremely important message,” he said.
When recommending Shen Yun to others, he would simply say: “Come and watch Shen Yun! It will calm your soul.”
“This Performance Is Breathtaking”
Italian parliamentarian Simonetta Matone at the Shen Yun performance in Rome on February 2 (The Epoch Times) (NTD Television)
On February 2, Italian parliamentarian Simonetta Matone celebrated Shen Yun’s return to the stage in Rome after six years.
“This performance is breathtaking—it is a tribute to freedom of thought, freedom of expression, poetry, and beauty!” she said. Ms. Matone is an Italian magistrate and serves as a member of the Chamber of Deputies for the Lega per Salvini Premier party.
“The dancers were astonishing, the costumes magnificent—especially those flowing sleeves that moved like water and air. Simply mesmerizing,” she said.
She said of the live orchestra, “This is a highly skilled orchestra—the seamless fusion of Western and Chinese instruments is extraordinary, and the dancers’ precision and discipline are remarkable.”
She was particularly fascinated by the synchronization between the dancers and the animated digital backdrop, describing it as “flawlessly precise” and “so captivating that I didn’t want to blink!”
As a Catholic, Ms. Matone also resonated with the principles of truth, compassion, and forbearance, conveyed through Shen Yun.
“These are universal values,” she said. “In times of war, persecution, and suffering, it is even more crucial to reaffirm and spread these principles worldwide.”
“Everyone has the right to choose their own faith, and the beauty that faith brings is peace, serenity, and unity,” she said.
Ms. Matone said Shen Yun’s success was not coincidental, but the result of unwavering dedication. “Please keep going. You must always stand by your beliefs—no matter the obstacles. Never stop,” she said.
She acknowledged that Shen Yun has faced significant challenges, including the long journey to the recent performances in Rome after so many years, but commended the company for overcoming seemingly insurmountable difficulties.
“I know that Shen Yun has encountered many obstacles—even in bringing this show to Rome. But you made it! And all your efforts and perseverance are absolutely worth it!” she said.
“This Is Very Important, Especially Today”
Corinne Ducrocq, mayor of French commune Coulaures and departmental councilor of Dordogne, and her husband Yves Ducrocq at the Shen Yun performance in Bordeaux, France, on January 28 (The Epoch Times)Corinne Ducrocq, mayor of the French commune Coulaures and a departmental councilor of Dordogne, and her husband Yves Ducrocq saw Shen Yun in Bordeaux on January 28.
“It’s touching and it’s also breathtaking in its colors, its liveliness, its dynamism,” said Ms. Ducrocq.
“Benevolence, goodness, freedom! The show sends a strong message!” Ms. Ducrocq said. She explained that she also felt “the friendship, the generosity” emanating from the Shen Yun artists.
“They carry values… kindness, simplicity, family, traditional values. This is very important, especially today,” she said.
“And the collectiveness too,” Ms. Ducrocq said. “Because today we live in an individualistic world, very individualistic. And there, we don't feel it at all. On the contrary, it is focused on others. There is a lot of respect between them... A lot of respect, a lot of smiles exchanged, a lot of grace, kindness!”
For more information about performance times, locations, and tickets, please visit www.shenyun.com.
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