Theatergoers in Europe and the Americas Cherish Shen Yun: “It Helps Unite People”

(Minghui.org) Shen Yun Performing Arts presented 35 performances in France, the Czech Republic, Mexico, Brazil, and the United States, between April 29–May 5, 2025.

Shen Yun New York Company at a sold-out house at the Palais des Congrès de Paris in Paris, France, on the afternoon of May 2

A standing ovation after Shen Yun World Company’s performance at the Bradesco Theater in São Paulo, Brazil, on May 2 (The Epoch Times)

Audience gave a standing ovation and cheered after Shen Yun Touring Company’s performance at the Prague Congress Center in Prague, Czech Republic, on May 1.

Shen Yun North America Company presented two performances to full houses at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, on May 3.

Shen Yun New World Company at a full house at the Civic Opera House in Chicago, Illinois, on May 4

Shen Yun New Era Company at a packed house at the Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City, Mexico, on the afternoon of May 3

“Everything Is Absolutely Remarkable”

Thierry Frappé (NTD Television)

French National Assembly Member Thierry Frappé saw Shen Yun in Paris on May 3.

“I’ve been to a lot of shows before, but this is the first time I’ve ever seen a show of this quality,” Mr. Frappé said.

“It’s part dream, part enchantment. The color, the dance, the dreams, the sets, everything is absolutely remarkable,” said Mr. Frappé, who is also deputy mayor of Labuissière and town councillor of Bruay-La-Buissière.

“It’s a total dream, with a sense of well-being and extraordinary détente. You’re part of the show; you’re in the show.

“I think the name is apt: ‘divine art.’ You do feel celestial. You feel divine in this show.

“The celestial part is profound. The themes are also deep, and the whole history of China over the past 5,000 years is very well represented,” said Mr. Frappé, who discovered “a lot of scenes I didn’t know about, of course.”

“We feel serene, we sense the benevolence, the tranquility, the passion, while still having deep convictions that are there,” he said.

Brought back to reality after the performance, Mr. Frappé added, “The modern world is an incredible distance away from this divine world you have.

“And Shen Yun, I think people must get to know this show. You have to experience the divinity and serenity that it represents, to perhaps better understand the world today. Be happy to be in this world.

“I’d simply add, don’t hesitate to go and see this show, which now takes place annually, I believe, between January and May. You have to make the trip and take part in the show that takes your breath away,” Mr. Frappé concluded.

“True Faith”

Bob Traitz (The Epoch Times)

Bob Traitz, first vice president of an investment and financial services company, saw Shen Yun in Newark, New Jersey, on May 2.

“It’s really a shame that communism suppressed all the ancient traditions and culture and covered up China’s history,” he said.

“Shen Yun showed true faith and conveyed the true belief in the Creator. I think the show successfully conveyed this message,” he said. “All people in the world, regardless of race or country, should believe in God or the Creator of the universe. I think Shen Yun exactly showed this concept.”

“Absolutely Enchanting”

Lisa and Tom Sodeika (NTD Television)

Lisa Sodeika, the founder and principal of L&K Contemporary Consulting, and her husband Tom Sodeika, the founder and CEO of Freedom Square, saw Shen Yun in Chicago on May 3.

“It’s absolutely enchanting. I’m sorry I missed the first 17. This is the 18th show. They’re different every year, I believe. And the colors are beautiful. The dancing is so elegant, just charming. We love it,” Lisa said.

“The music is excellent. It’s also live, performed live, which is wonderful. Live music is just such a gift to be shared with people,” Tom said.

“It’s wonderful, it’s immersive, and it makes me think back to China, which has a long history, 5,000 years. There’s much that has been built in beauty and culture that, I think, due to the Communism, has been wiped out. So it’s very good to have it represented and remind people of what it was like and what we need to return in all of our nations, all of our cultures,” he said.

“Bring your friends, bring your family, bring your children. I think there are a lot of important lessons to be learned, and be entertained at the same time with beautiful, beautiful dancers,” Lisa said.

“I Think It Helps Unite People”

Hugo Rojas, his wife Jean, and their son (The Epoch Times)

Hugo Rojas, Secretary of Parliamentary Services of the Mexican Chamber of Deputies, his wife Jean, and their son saw Shen Yun in Mexico City on May 2.

“The synchronization, the agility of the dancers, and the stories they told—that’s beautiful,” said Mr. Rojas, adding that the music also impressed him.

Among the stories, he highlighted an act about “tolerance and the fight against the abuse of power.”

“It’s important because it teaches us courage, the importance of freedom,” he said.

“It’s a beautiful performance, a beautiful conception of societies. I think it helps unite people, the idea that they have a common origin. That’s very beautiful,” added Mr. Rojas.

One of the aspects he highlighted as common to Mexican culture is the idea of divine origin.

“I’m very struck by the little, very little I know about the history of the Chinese people. They have a deeply rooted idea of their divine origin and the centrality they occupy in the world,” the lawyer said.

“Many people feel their origin is divine. In Mexico, it happens to us; the story of our founding has a divine origin. Before the arrival of the Spanish, our gods guided the Aztecs to found the city here. I think that’s very common among peoples—that they have a connection with divinity,” he said.

“There Are a lot of Messages of Hope”

Preity Üpala (NTD Television)

Preity Üpala, actress, entrepreneur, and former Miss India International, saw Shen Yun in Hollywood on May 3.

Ms. Üpala said she first saw Shen Yun 10 years ago. “It was magical then. And it’s very magical now,” she said.

“I think the first time, I was just wowed by the music and the art. But this time I think it touched me a little deeper,” she said.

“The show is one of the premier 3D entertainment experiences in the world. I think I didn’t even know that that was possible. The timing was perfect because if you don’t get the timing right, it won’t work. But the dancers are on cue. And the graphics are beautiful.

“I really appreciate expression, gestures, elaborate dance moves, and even martial arts. I like the combination of it, because in Hollywood, you don’t always get that,” she said.

Ms. Üpala said she appreciates the message she felt from the performance: “There was a bit, it said, internal tranquility, external strength. And that is such an important message today, especially with what’s going on in the world. Because it’s all about the inner, it is all about what’s in here. And if all of us tap in, then we’ll be a different person. And if everybody in the world was like that, it’d be a more beautiful world. So that touched me. I thought, ‘I like that, and how can I use that in my life?’

“The humanity, the spirituality, civility, love, going deeper within and connecting with the world outside, and all of those good things. I think that we forget, and when we come to a show like this, it reminds us.

“Know that you are touching people at large, and people are being affected. It’s not just that they’re coming to have a beautiful experience. They’re actually leaving feeling fulfilled, feeling positive, feeling full of hope. There are a lot of messages of hope out there,” Ms. Üpala said.

“A Deeper Understanding of Traditional Chinese Culture”

Rodrigo Cabarrus, his wife, and their son (The Epoch Times)

Rodrigo Cabarrus, an entrepreneur in the field of business education, and his wife and son saw Shen Yun in São Paulo on May 4.

“It’s not just music, art or production, but the integration of multiple elements that give people a deeper understanding of traditional Chinese culture,” he said.

“This is a powerful experience that can deeply enrich your understanding of China at the cultural level.

“The show shows values, unity and appeal, and the eternal struggle between good and evil, right and wrong, which exists in all cultures. I like this theme very much. It is an eternal battle, and kindness always wins in the end,” Mr. Cabarrus said.

“They Are All Blessed with Many Talents”

Donna and Sam Reed (The Epoch Times)

Sam Reed, a CFO, and Donna Reed, a dental assistant, saw Shen Yun in Pittsburgh on April 27.

“It’s just beautiful colors, beautiful costumes,” Sam said. “The music is fantastic.”

“I just admire the dedication of the dancers and the costuming and how the silks just flow,” Donna said. “They’re all so incredible. Just the dedication is amazing.”

Sam was impressed by the dancers’ athleticism and “how they jump around, and flip, and the gracefulness of their movements.”

“In today’s world, you just don’t see that a whole lot—young people being dedicated,” Donna said. “It just gives you hope for the future. I can’t say enough good about the show.”

Sam pointed to the suppression of traditional Chinese culture and “what’s been going on in China the last 100 years” as the reason why he has never heard Chinese music as performed by Shen Yun anywhere else.

“It’s just a shame what’s happened there,” he said. “You saw communism rise and fall in Europe, and it hasn’t fallen in China yet. It just oppresses people. You suppress the genius of the common man. People aspire to make their lives better, to provide for their families, and they just don’t have those opportunities.”

They both expressed their belief in the importance of Shen Yun’s mission to revive traditional culture.

“I can’t imagine our nation without our history and culture,” Sam said. “How do you know where you’re going if you don’t know where you’re at?”

“I just love their traditions,” Donna said. “It’s just nice to see other people’s ways and traditions and learn other people’s traditions... It’s good to expand your mind to the way other people live and believe in, and things like that.”

Donna expressed her appreciation for all the people involved in producing Shen Yun.

“When you are blessed with a talent, you go with it... And they are all blessed with many talents,” she said.

The couple have now seen Shen Yun two years in a row, and Sam said that not only do they “constantly recommend it to people,” but also that they will “keep coming every year.”

“Values that Are So Important for Young People to Learn”

Eric and Roxanne Bouchard (NTD Television)

Alberta Member of the Legislative Assembly Eric Bouchard and his wife Roxanne saw Shen Yun in Calgary, Canada, on April 17.

Eric described the experience as “incredible,” highlighting the mesmerizing colors, exquisite dancing, and moving music.

“It was absolutely spectacular. The performance was beyond what I had expected. I thought it would be just a fine arts dance show, but it turned out to be much more—it was about freedom, faith, and God. That really struck me, and it was beautiful. I feel enlightened and hopeful,” said Roxanne, an art teacher.

“The music was incredible. The live orchestra was amazing. Some of the instruments I’d never heard before, but the sounds were just phenomenal,” Eric said.

“It absolutely adds to the fabric of Alberta. We’re a multicultural society, and it’s wonderful to experience an event like this. It brings tradition and culture to life,” he said.

Roxanne emphasized the importance of preserving traditions. “It’s really important to keep traditions alive. Without them, we lose our way. The show is a beautiful example of that,” she said. “If we lose our traditions, we’ve lost our way, and we must remember to stand on the shoulders of the giants before us.”

Eric also reflected on the show’s message, which he believes is beneficial for younger generations. “It’s a great educational program for the next generation. The show emphasizes respect, honor, peace, loyalty, and doing what’s right—values that are so important for young people to learn,” he said.

“I love the arts. I’m an art teacher, so I really appreciate all the details—the colors, the choreography, the music,” Roxanne said. “It was just unbelievable. The synchronization of the choreography with the music and the digital backdrop was well done. It was so beautiful.”