(Minghui.org) During the third week of January 2025, the eight touring companies of New York-based Shen Yun continued to share moving tales from traditional Chinese culture with theatergoers in Poland, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Japan.
Shen Yun North America Company at the Harris Center in Folsom, California, on the afternoon of January 15. The company presented two sold-out shows in Folsom on January 14 and 15. (The Epoch Times)
Shen Yun Touring Company at the Memorial Auditorium at Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh, North Carolina, on January 19. The company presented three performances in Raleigh on January 18 and 19. (The Epoch Times)
Shen Yun New World Company at the Duke Energy Center for the Arts – Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg, Florida, on January 19. The company presented five performances in St. Petersburg on January 16–19. (The Epoch Times)
Shen Yun International Company at the Grand Theatre, Łódź, in Łódź, Poland, on January 19. The performers took three bows during the curtain call. The company presented four sold-out performances in Łódź January 17–19. (The Epoch Times)
Shen Yun World Company at the Palace Theatre in Manchester, United Kingdom, on the afternoon of January 16. The company presented six performances in Manchester on January 16–19, all to packed houses. (The Epoch Times)
Shen Yun New York Company at the Teatro degli Arcimboldi in Milan, Italy, on the evening of January 17. The company presented eight performances in Milan on January 14–20, all to packed houses. (The Epoch Times)
“I See Their smiles—It’s Very Genuine”
Jennifer Ginsberg, psychotherapist, at the Shen Yun performance in Los Angeles on January 19 (The Epoch Times)
Jennifer Ginsberg, a psychotherapist, saw Shen Yun in Los Angeles on January 19.
Ms. Ginsberg is very intentional about what kind of media she watches, carefully curating works that will uplift, inspire, and show her beauty. In Shen Yun Performing Arts, she found just that.
“It’s beautiful. It’s so relaxing, and so beautiful, so inspiring. The colors, the costumes, the dance is just lovely. The performers are so talented. It’s wonderful,” said Ms. Ginsberg.
“I think it’s really striking that this isn’t allowed in China,” she said. “It’s so important that we keep it alive here and continue to just perform. They continue to perform and continue to spread their message and their art.”
“I think the last pieces about meditation and then the communism coming in and not allowing those beautiful spiritual practices were really compelling, and very heartbreaking to watch. So much of it is just really so beautiful,” she said.
Ms. Ginsberg said that Shen Yun was doing “a beautiful job” keeping traditional Chinese culture alive.
“It’s so important that we see that, and it’s kept alive,” Ms. Ginsberg said. “It’s such a rich and beautiful culture. And we must continue to be able to see it and express it. And the dance is so beautiful. The performers are amazing. I think everyone should see it.”
“They’re so lovely,” she said. “They’re so talented, and... I love that their spirit is showing through when they dance. I see their smiles; it’s very genuine.”
“There’s so much life and beauty, and it’s just a beautiful way to spend some time and to experience something,” she said.
“All Worries, Sorrows, and Even Fears Disappear”
Swietłana Dumańska (right), an international music competition judge and concert pianist, with friends at the Shen Yun performance in Łódź on January 19 (The Epoch Times)
Swietłana Dumańska, an international music competition judge and concert pianist, saw Shen Yun with friends in Łódź on January 19.
“This kind of music and dance can soothe the soul and emotions very well, and can balance many things. She created this atmosphere of great peace and tranquility,” Ms. Dumańska said.
“All worries, sorrows, and even fears disappear. I feel peaceful and joyful.
“Their skills have reached the highest level. I am really grateful for their performance and hard work,” she said.
“The Orchestra Was Pristine”
Thom Russo, with Alanna Ubach and family at the Shen Yun performance in Los Angeles on January 19 (The Epoch Times)
Actress Alanna Ubach, and Thom Russo, a multi-Grammy award-winning music producer, saw Shen Yun in Los Angeles on January 19.
“It’s phenomenal. It’s very graceful. There’s such a sophistication to it. And you learn a lot about history,” Ms. Ubach said.
Ms. Ubach shared that the many aspects of the production were amazing—an orchestra performing beautiful music, an “immersive background” that blended fantasy and reality—“amazing,” she said.
Mr. Russo agreed, commending the music production of Shen Yun.
“Absolutely fantastic. Yes, on all levels, it was incredible,” he said. “The orchestra was pristine. All the compositions, everything. It was amazing. Absolutely amazing.”
Mr. Russo found that the East-West blend “worked incredibly well,” aiding the storytelling of five millennia of Chinese civilization.
“Amazing. It was so much content in two hours that I’m overwhelmed with the information—and all in a wonderful way,” he said.
He said he felt “uplifted and moved emotionally” during the performance, especially seeing so many heavenly scenes in Shen Yun.
Mr. Russo was filled with gratitude for the artists after the performance, adding that he wanted to thank them.
“Incredible. Inspiration. Very, very inspirational,” he said. “It’s like you empower people. Thank you very much.”
“A Whole New Level of Art”
Emma Coughlin and Michelle Coughlin at the Shen Yun performance in Manchester on the afternoon of January 16
Emma Coughlin and Michelle Coughlin saw Shen Yun in Manchester on the afternoon of January 16. Emma is the principal at a dance school in Liverpool, and Michelle is a dance teacher at the same school.
“The dance is amazing, a whole new level of art,” said Emma.
“When the female performers walked onto stage, I thought: wow, they look like they are gliding across the stage, so light, like they are floating on stage. It’s amazing,” she said.
“Goes Really Into the Heart”
Costume designer Rosi Gabl at the Shen Yun performance in Los Angeles on January 19 (NTD Television)
Costume designer Rosi Gabl saw Shen Yun in Los Angeles on January 19.
“It was beautiful. It was amazing... I am very happy that I finally got a chance to see it. It was amazing—absolutely gorgeous, touching—goes really into the heart,” said Ms. Gabl.
“The costumes are amazing... The music is amazing!” she said. “It was beautiful, beautiful... Time flew by.”
Ms. Gabl said she is a practicing Buddhist, and saw in Shen Yun the freedom of belief that contrasted the current communist China.
“I’m absolutely happy,” she said. Between that freedom, and “then just the beauty of all of it—the colors, the little stories, the performers are amazing and the costumes are just a must-see—it’s very touching, and very spiritual, and beautiful.”
Ms. Gabl said the costumes were stunning and couldn’t have been easy to design.
“Just stunning work. It’s not easy to make clothes for performing artists who have to move like that,” she said. “All the flowiness, and the beautiful embroidery, the shine of everything, the jewelry, the little hair pieces. I loved the little boots with the embroidery. I mean, men and women—it was amazing—just amazing. Stunning.”
Ms. Gabl loved the “very bright, beautiful colors” of the costuming, and how that also coordinated with the digital backdrop that expanded the set well beyond the stage.
“I haven’t seen anything like that, even though I work for film and television,” she said.
She shared that the performance had been so uplifting because it conveyed hope.
“I think it was a very spiritual experience, and it gives people hope to see it,” she said. “It’s very inspiring and gives us, hopefully every viewer, hope for the future.”
“It was really, really nice, very inspired,” she said. “Just so inspiring, and for the future, I definitely want to see every show in the future.”
“A Spiritual Celebration”
Trombonist Emanuele Breda and his wife Paola Pate at the Shen Yun performance in Milan on January 16 (The Epoch Times)
Trombonist Emanuele Breda and his wife Paola Pate saw Shen Yun in Milan on January 16.
“This is an incredible effort. Conveying a divine message in a not too obvious way,” said Mr. Breda.
“My sense is that there is a master who wants us to understand: all of humanity is one family. The origin of human beings was originally very clear, but everything in today’s society is very confusing. However, in their (Shen Yun artists) hearts and souls, this is very clear, and they feel that their mission is to remind people of this great origin of mankind.
“I believe that 90% of the audience are amazed by the colors and dance of the performance. But on a deeper level, their souls are also awakened,” he said. “This is a spiritual celebration.”
For more information about performance times, locations, and tickets, please visit www.shenyun.com.
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