(Clearwisdom.net) TAIWAN- Shen Yun Performing Arts put on 39 shows in seven cities in Taiwan between February 20 and March 25, 2009. About 100,000 people got to see the performances. The shows received excellent reviews and broke several records for artistic and cultural performances.

A packed house applauded the performance

The New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts Company performing in Taiwan attracted a large following, putting tickets in high demand. The Chia-yi Theater typically does not sell corner seats because of the limited view. Due to the demand, however, theater officials relented and also sold those seats for the Shen Yun performance. The last show in Hsin-Chu played to a full house, and the theater even added temporary seats because of the show's popularity.

Over 10,000 tickets were sold for the seven shows in Kaohsiung. One week before the show's premiere, the tickets were sold out. Before the show started, there were long lines of people still waiting in front of the service desk in the hopes that someone would return his or her tickets.

Shen Yun originally planned for 37 performances in Taiwan. Because all of the tickets were gone shortly after the sales office opened in Yuan-lin, Shen Yun decided to add two more shows. In less than four days, those tickets were sold out as well.

Wu Hong-Chang, former head of the Kaohsiung City Chinese Orchestra and current head of the Taiwan Chorus, wanted to see the show at least once a year. Mr. Wu said that he was amazed and inspired each time he watched it, and he invited members of the chorus to the show this year. "The essence that all artists search for all their lives--Shen Yun has found it."

Wu Tian-hui, former Consul General to Japan and Korea and former Director of the Hsin-Chu District Court, attended the show with his wife. He was very excited after the show, "This is the first time I have seen such an outstanding show in eighty years. I am very fortunate to have seen it."

On March 15, Taitung County Magistrate Kuang Li-chen brought over 300 residents from Taitung and drove five hours to Kaohsiung to see the show. Kuang praised the show's spirit and hoped that one-day Shen Yun would perform in Taitung.

Two associations from the hardware industry of Taipei County brought 60 of their members to see the show. They in turn invited their friends and relatives and arrived with a contingent of 170.

Two associations from the hardware industry in Taipei County came to enjoy the show

In the evening on March 4, Shen Yun performed in Taichung. Five tour buses brought many people from nearby places. The Yun-lin County government invited 108 art and culture teachers to the show. Yun-lin County Magistrate Su Chi-fen said that Shen Yun brought a very positive message to society and she hopes to "see it every year."

Yun-lin County Magistrate Su Chi-fen invited 108 art and culture teachers to the show

On March 11, ten buses arrived in Chia-yi, carrying audience members for the Shen Yun show. The principal of Sia-tan Elementary School brought a group of teachers and students. A sixth grade class from Ming-lun Elementary School of Yun-lin came to as part of their graduation tour. Teachers from the Li-ren Elementary School in Yun-lin County rented two tour buses to see the show.

Shen Yun has been touring Taiwan for the last three years and its reputation has spread. People from Hong Kong and Malaysia flew to Taiwan to see the Spectacular. On March 7, dozens in the audience came from England, South Africa, Hong Kong, and Malaysia to watch the show.

People from Malaysia flew to Taichung to watch the Shen Yun show

Teachers in Seven Counties and Cities See the Shen Yun Show

The Shen Yun show delivers a message of kindness and beauty that has particularly appealed to educators. On January 12, 2009, according to an article in the China Times, "About 50 principals and teachers from different schools gathered in the Cultural Center in Taichung to recommend the Shen Yun show to residents. They said that the show combines the essence of traditional Chinese culture that can purify people's minds and is powerful for moral education."

The City of Tainan listed the Shen Yun show as part of its teachers' Traditional Culture and Art Education Curriculum. This is the first time in Taiwan's history that an artistic performance has been included in formal education. So far, thirty principals have seen the show. The education divisions of five counties and cities in central Taiwan have approved credits for teachers in their education studies for watching the Shen Yun show.

This year the Taipei City Department of Education gave three credit hours to encourage teachers to watch the show. The Department Commissioner, Wu Ching-ji, who watched the Shen Yun show in Taipei, stated that, "Including the show as part of the teachers' study program will be helpful to their professional development."