Shen Yun Is ‘Delicate’ and ‘Absolutely Interesting,’ Says Philadelphia Audience Member

NTD Newsroom
Shen Yun
Shen Yun Performing Arts entranced the audience at the Miller Theater in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on May 10 and 11. The company’s mission is to show the world the beauty of China before communism. Delaware Gov. Matthew Meyer extended his sincere congratulations to Shen Yun and honored the artists with a proclamation.

“Absolutely interesting, absolutely different. We see a lot of shows. We do really like this show. It's so flowing, so delicate, so awesome,” said Eugene Jablokov, a business owner.

“I thought it was absolutely marvelous. The beauty of the whole show, the translations of everything, was just spiritual and just soul moving,” said Walter Olivant, an environmental engineer. “I'd say to the performers, 100 percent, it was the best performance I may have ever seen, just all coming together.”

“I haven't had much exposure to Chinese culture, particularly Chinese dance, so it's very, very interesting to see and learn about. I like how they include aspects of history, and religion and culture in the show. It's beautiful. It's very, very beautiful,” said Sebastian Read, a finance director.

“I would recommend this for anybody to see the colors, the costumes, the dance. It's just a feast for the eyes,” said Lori LaPorte, a therapist.

Shen Yun draws its inspiration from 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture and values, a heritage that ancient Chinese people believed was divinely inspired.

“We were always looking for something heavenly, but we're actually looking for more materialistic things on this Earth. And at the end, you need more spiritual, as opposed to materialistic. And that's what that was, really poignant,” Mr. Jablokov said.

“The spiritual message is awe-inspiring in that we as man are God's creation and movement in the soul and the body, in the human brain even, is all connected,” Mr. Olivant said. “I think the musicians, the dance, all came together as one. It just was one giant translation of love, God's creation of divine, and it's really divinity.”

Since the Communist Party took power in China in 1949, the regime has sought to break Chinese society’s belief in the divine and persecuted those with faith. Shen Yun’s performance also shows scenes from modern day China and how things have changed under communism.

“I didn't expect that to be part of the show. It was really thought provoking. It made me think about things that go on in China,” said Brian Rabbitte, a former law enforcement officer.

“I do appreciate that they brought it out here, because most people don't even realize what's going on,” Mr. Jablokov said.

Shen Yun has been traveling around the world since 2006, and has now grown to eight different companies. Its artists bring an all-new program every season for the audience to enjoy.
NTD News, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

NTD is a media sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts, covering audience reactions since 2006.