(Minghui.org) From February 6-13, 2023, Shen Yun Performing Arts presented a total of 31 performances in twelve cities in France, Austria, the Dominican Republic, and the United States. 

Shen Yun New York Company at the Großes Festspielhaus in Salzburg, Austria, on the afternoon of February 12. The company presented three performances in Salzburg on February 11 and 12. Tickets were sold out three weeks before the performances. (The Epoch Times) 

Shen Yun Global Company at the Palais des Congrès de Tours in Tours, France, on the afternoon of February 12. The company presented three performances in Tours on February 11 and 12, all to packed houses. (The Epoch Times) 

On February 9, Shen Yun Global Company presented the last of its eight performances in Lyon, France, at L'Amphithéâtre 3000. All eight of the company’s performances February 4–9 were presented to packed houses. (The Epoch Times) 

Shen Yun New Era Company at the Linda Ronstadt Music Hall in Tucson, Arizona, on February 12. The company presented three performances in Tucson on February 11 and 12, all to packed houses. (The Epoch Times) 

On February 11, Shen Yun Touring Company presented two performances, both to packed houses, at The Bushnell - The William H. Mortensen Hall in Hartford, Connecticut. (The Epoch Times) 

Shen Yun New Era Company at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts in Reno, Nevada, on February 7. The company presented two performances in Reno on February 7 and 8. (NTD Television)

Shen Yun International Company at the packed house at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, in Escondido, California, on February 10. The company presented seven performances in Escondido February 8–14. (The Epoch Times) 

Shen Yun Touring Company’s curtain call at the packed house (with added seats) at the GRAND THEATER OF CIBAO Restoration Hall in Santiago, Dominican Republic, on February 7, concluding the company’s Dominican Republic tour. (The Epoch Times) 

“Great Spiritual Transcendence”

Lucildo Gómez (right), deputy director of Information and Press of the Presidency, his wife, and Anthony Marte (left), president of a communications company, at the Shen Yun performance in Santiago, Dominican Republic, on February 6 (The Epoch Times) 

Lucildo Gómez, deputy director of Information and Press of the Presidency, saw Shen Yun in Santiago, Dominican Republic on February 6. Mr. Gómez said that the performance surpassed his expectations.

“It was a phenomenon of great excellence, of great technique, of great mastery... The artists presented, [and] they gave their best,” Mr. Gómez said.

Shen Yun means “the beauty of divine beings dancing,” and Mr. Gómez expressed that he certainly saw the divine elements both in the dancing itself and in the presentation of traditional Chinese culture.

“I feel very calm, very peaceful because the experience was of great spiritual transcendence... It is a masterful work related to the celestial, with the ideas that they bring from the millenary history of their people. And that of course penetrates deeply into the soul,” said Mr. Gómez. 

Shen Yun’s website states that the ancient Chinese people believed that their culture was a gift from the heavens. Mr. Gómez said that he was particularly moved by Chinese culture’s connection to the divine.

“All the content was related to spirituality, to religion, to your own history or that of your country, which comes from divinity, from the gods, from spirituality... I felt very good. It really touched me very deeply,” he said.

Mr. Gómez also said that he believed the values Shen Yun presented, such as compassion, faith, and hope, to be extremely important “because that is what gives you hope, what gives you life. What makes human beings think that they can continue walking and that they can fill their body with energy, with good ideas, with inner strength to be able to continue,” he said. 

“A Journey Through Time”

Alexander Gremm, consultant at a construction engineering company in Munich, Germany, and his wife at the Shen Yun performance in Salzburg, Austria, on February 12 (NTD Television)

Alexander Gremm, consultant at a construction engineering company in Munich, Germany, and his wife saw Shen Yun in Salzburg, Austria, on February 12.

“The whole show was telling stories. There were interesting plots and also ones that expose the reality of what’s happening right now. This is very important. I think you shouldn’t be silent about this. You should talk about and publicize it. This might bring changes to things,” Mr. Gremm said. 

“The performance was a journey through time, a journey from the past to the present. You can see what will happen in the future, and how beautiful those times were in the past, but these must be preserved in traditions. This is what’s excellent about the performance,” he said. 

“Lovely Art and Performance”

Robert Brillante, cable television manager and executive, at the Shen Yun performance in Mobile, Alabama, on February 7 (NTD Television)

Robert Brillante, cable television manager and executive, saw Shen Yun in Mobile, Alabama, on February 7.

“I’m amazed at the performance. This is actually the second time that I’ve seen it. Each time it has been just absolutely wonderful. I’m just amazed at the precision of the performers, the original scores of music,” Mr. Brillante said. 

“What is most impressive to me being in a media business is the ability to talk about such sensitive subjects and to do it through such lovely art and performance. And to touch people’s hearts on topics that they need to hear about,” he said. 

“Ultimately It Hits You Very Personally”

Andreas Gnesda, CEO of Vienna-based company Teamgnesda, at the Shen Yun performance in Salzburg, Austria, on February 12 (NTD Television)

Andreas Gnesda, CEO of Vienna-based company Teamgnesda that designs office and work spaces, brought some of his staff to see Shen Yun in Salzburg, Austria, on February 12.

“We are enjoying it very much today... I liked it very, very much. [It’s] a culture that I’m almost not familiar with. I’ve never been to China,” Mr. Gnesda said.

“It brought me closer to that in a nice way, and that’s very insightful... It’s incredibly aesthetic, and ultimately it hits you very personally. So this is a very, very nice encounter with a very, very different culture,” he said.

Mr. Gnesda spoke about how Shen Yun made an impression on him personally.

“Well, at first I was totally impressed by the pictures that are painted there, by the movements, by the acrobatic interludes. But in the end, the deeper impression is much stronger. What is conveyed with the acting, with the dance, and also with the wonderful singing that we heard, that was really great. That’s just moving,” he said.

“The message of the song is that we humans are most likely to limit ourselves. The singer expressed that to us beautifully. And it’s very reassuring that it’s the same in China as it is in Europe.

“I think that very often we humans put barriers on ourselves and don’t even get the chance to develop our potentials. And for me, this song was quite a strong appeal to bring the inner potentials to unfold... That also comes naturally in the [song]. It’s simply about, I think, at the beginning of the song there was some line, that every human being comes into the world with a mission and that souls come into the world to do a mission here. And if they don’t do it, then they keep coming back. And I have a lot of sympathy for that thought.

“I believe the original source of man comes from heaven... And heaven is on earth with it, because a little bit of that heaven is carried by everyone in us. And that is here on earth. And everyone has a little bit different mission.

“When I think about the song and the performance that we saw today, it’s always the same things that it’s about. It’s about love. It’s about being together, about living with each other, getting along with each other, bringing out what’s inside of each one of us, no matter what part of the earth we are born on,” Mr. Gnesda said. 

“My Soul Has Risen”

Marie-Christine Bonnin, lawyer at the Haute-Loire bar, at the Shen Yun performance in Lyon, France, on February 8 (NTD Television)

Marie-Christine Bonnin, lawyer at the Haute-Loire bar, saw Shen Yun in Lyon, France, on February 8. She traveled a hundred kilometers from Puy-en-Velay to see the performance. 

“I think I can say that it would be great if all the laboratories would meet here to tap into the infinite beauty of Shen Yun to create a vaccine for all the ugliness in the world... That would be great!” Ms. Bonnin said.

“The show is really fabulous! I feel like I’m three centimeters taller and my soul has risen. I had a wonderful time!” she said.

Among the various dance vignettes, Ms. Bonnin “really liked the classical women’s dance... I thought the harmony was wonderful!” she said.

Having practiced classical dance herself when she was younger, she recognized the professional level of the dancers, “I am passionate about classical dance and therefore I could measure the difficulties of these dancers and their performances that are really prestigious,” she said.

Regarding the piece portraying Chinese regime’s ongoing persecution of practitioners of Falun Gong, which is based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance, she said, “These are values that should be universal. Unfortunately, these are not always put forth... But it’s good to say it again... They are the values that make us more dignified, greater and... they are lacking a little at the moment in our humanity.”

This piece particularly touched Ms. Bonnin: “This is what I appreciate, because I am not at all in favor of dictatorships, it is obvious. So it was nice to see this [awareness of] this crime being committed. It’s quite touching.”

Ms. Bonnin also spoke about the spirituality presented in the performance. “There is a sacred dimension that touches us... We can’t ignore it,” she said. 

“It is well presented too. The dance itself expresses it, but the presenters also invite us to share a little of this mission that they have, I believe... Each one presents himself as having a mission in fact... There is a sacred dimension indeed that we perceive... So I hope that this will make the spectators better,” she said. 

Ms. Bonnin said this was her first time seeing Shen Yun. “But I may come back next year, in two years, in three years... because it’s something that is—it’s a gift,” she said. 

“It’s a gift to us. So is it a gift from heaven? It’s possible... Either way, the dancers are well grounded; they are firmly anchored on earth,” Ms. Bonnin said.

“Those Are Some Top-notch Professionals”

Annette Mesa, dance teacher and choreographer, at the Shen Yun performance in Tucson, Arizona, on February 12 (NTD Television)

Annette Mesa, dance teacher and choreographer, saw Shen Yun in Tucson, Arizona, on February 12.

“The performers are top-notch. Those are some top-notch professionals. They really have some great skills and you can really tell that there’s a lot of time and effort and energy put into what they do. They did some pretty amazing things. We had a lot of ‘wow’ moments. When we were watching the show, we were just looking at each other, and ‘wow, did you see what they just did?’” said Ms. Mesa.

“I really did enjoy the spiritual aspect of the show... I welcome that. I didn’t expect that. Here we don’t know a lot about communism and what people go through in other countries. But to see that there was a message of hope is really the way I looked at it. I felt like there’s a message of hope coming from God. And I just really enjoyed that part and I am really glad that was something that was included in this part of the show,” she said. 

“Very Heartfelt, Beautiful Experience”

Dr. Artemis Morris, naturopathic physician, licensed acupuncturist, educator, author, and founder of Artemis Wellness Center, at the Shen Yun performance in Hartford, Connecticut, on February 11 with her mother, children, and friend (The Epoch Times)

Dr. Artemis Morris, naturopathic physician, licensed acupuncturist, educator, author, and founder of Artemis Wellness Center, saw Shen Yun in Hartford, Connecticut, on February 11 with her mother, children, and friend.

“Shen Yun is a combination of a history that is so relevant for today in a beautiful visual. It’s the sensory experiences with the music and the ancient rhythms. And seeing how people are keeping that alive so that we can enjoy is a very heartfelt, beautiful experience. And really appreciate being able to be here and for the people who helped continue the history so we can continue to hear the message and see the message,” said Dr. Morris.

“So is it Truth, Compassion, and Forbearance? So the message is universal message. And I’ve been wanting to see this show for years, so I was really glad I could take my mom, and kids, and friend. But Truth, Compassion, Forbearance – what else is going to bring us together after so much of what is going on environmentally, politically, socially. We really need those three messages, so thank you for that and the beautiful performance. Appreciate it,” she said.

San Diego Officials Welcome Shen Yun Prior to Performances in Escondido

In anticipation of Shen Yun’s seven performances at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido in northern San Diego County from February 8–14, greater San Diego area officials of the federal, state and county levels issued welcome remarks to the performing arts company.

Adrienne Cisneros-Selekman, a community liaison from San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond’s office, presented a proclamation in person on February 8. (The Epoch Times) 

“Whereas Shen Yun Performing Arts is one such worthy organization, now therefore, be it proclaimed, that Jim Desmond, by virtue of authority vested in him as the 5th District Supervisor in the county of San Diego, do hereby proclaim today, February 8th, 2023, a Shen Yun Performing Arts day, in recognition of their exquisite interpretation of traditional Chinese culture and dance. Congratulations,” Ms. Cisneros-Selekman read from the proclamation.

“I thought it helped portray the story and the messaging of what was the divine belief a long time ago before communism came in and ruined everything, and it’s amazing they’re still there... It’s good to let people know how beautiful a lot of these cultures, especially Chinese culture was, and what they believed in and how they survived after all these thousands of years. We have to have a voice for them, and I will tell a lot of my friends about this too,” said Ms. Cisneros-Selekman. 

U.S. Congressman Scott Peters, representing the 50^th congressional district in San Diego since 2013, has been sending proclamations to Shen Yun every year for the past several years. In this year’s proclamation, Congressman Peters wrote, “Shen Yun has maintained their mission to revive traditional Chinese culture and share it with the world since their humble beginnings in 2006 in New York and has played a crucial role in reviving and sharing the traditional Chinese culture with the San Diego community.”

Upcoming Performances

Shen Yun continues its 2023 tour with upcoming performances in San Antonio, Texas, February 18–19; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, February 18–19; St. Louis, Missouri, February 18–19; Boise, Idaho, February 18–19; Phoenix, Arizona, February 18–22; Paris, France, February 18–19; Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany, February 18–19; and Seoul, South Korea, February 18–19.