“Every time I watch it, I'm amazed all over again because the performance is truly outstanding,” Chui Pak-Tai, a former Hong Kong district councillor, said.
“The sound and visuals, the dance and movements, everything was top-notch. A very good performance, and extremely professional,” Chen Chin-Wang, chief advisor of the New Taipei City Orchid Association, said.
Shen Yun’s mission is to revive 5,000 years of divinely inspired culture from “China before communism,” a culture that was deeply rooted in Buddhist and Taoist beliefs. Audience members praised the dancers for bringing that spiritual essence back to life.
“Like celestial maidens descending to Earth, the dancers' movements were so graceful and light, almost divine, as if they were soaring through the air,” food connoisseur Fei Qi said. “It wasn't something ordinary ballet could achieve. It combined classical dance with a profound faith and trust in the team to create the feeling—truly a dance with the Divine,” she added.
“Through the dance performance, including the animated backdrops, we felt that we are so close to God. This state of oneness with God made me feel like I was in a fairyland, in a Divine realm. It made me realize that there is no distance between humans and gods, we are so close,” Vice President of Kainan University Chen Wen-Chia said.
“Most importantly, the spiritual aspect of the performance was deeply moving,” Mr. Chui said. “We saw hope, beauty, and brilliance, so many benefits, so many indescribable wonders within the performance.”
“[The performance] cleansed our minds of worldly cares, giving our spirits a sense of rebirth, as if they had undergone a sacred bath. This, I believe, is more than just watching traditional culture or dance, it's about experiencing the inner spirit of tradition,” said Song Kuo-Cheng, a senior researcher of the institute of International Relations in NCCU.
“Just because you haven't seen something, doesn't mean it doesn't exist,” Fei said. “I hope that through this theatrical performance and dance, everyone can better understand that there are many dark events in this world, and that we must move towards the light.”
Audience members described Shen Yun as a gift of the New Year.
“On the first day of the new year 2026, I felt this was truly a wonderful gift,” Fei said. “Like an oasis in the desert, Shen Yun provided tremendous energy, ability, resources, and nourishment, allowing everyone to return to simplicity and reflect on their inner world once again.”
“I think this is the best ending for 2025. It's a rare event that only happens once a year, and [Shen Yun] emphasizes that each year's performance is different, so it feels like every year is a new beginning,” said Huang Yu-Tung, who is the founder of an integrated international marketing company.
