(Minghui.org) After Shen Yun launched its new season in Japan, the performing arts company began its Europe and North America tours with performances in Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States during the last week of December 2023. 

Top photo: Jones Hall for the Performing Arts in Houston, TexasBottom photo: Shen Yun North America Company’s curtain call at Jones Hall for the Performing Arts on the afternoon of December 31 

Shen Yun North America Company presented 10 performances at Houston’s Jones Hall for the Performing Arts December 26–January 1, all to full theaters. Seats with partially obstructed views of the backdrop were opened up for some performances to meet the demand. (The Epoch Times)

Congresswoman Presents Certificate of Congressional Recognition in Person

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee presented a Certificate of Congressional Recognition to the performing arts company in person on December 30, 2023. She said, “This is a vital introduction to China, to tell China’s story, so that Houstonians, but also across America, we can know the story of China.” 

Texas State Representative: “We’ll Be Back Next Year”

Texas State Representative Steve Toth and his wife Babette at Shen Yun’s evening performance in Houston on December 29 (The Epoch Times)

Texas State Rep. Steve Toth and his wife Babette attended Shen Yun’s evening show at the Jones Hall for the Performing Arts in Houston on December 29.

It was the couple’s first time seeing Shen Yun. “We’ll be back next year,” Rep. Toth exclaimed. “I just loved all of it. It showed the beauty of China and what Marxism had tried to destroy. [Shen Yun] is keeping it alive, which is beautiful.”

Mrs. Toth thought the show’s presentation was creative. “It was really amazing coordination between the dancers, the musicians, and the screen. The technology is really precise and right on cue. It was wonderful,” she said.

The couple thought one of the most special and moving moments in the show was Shen Yun’s story-dance piece depicting the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution of Falun Gong—a peaceful meditation practice of the Buddhist tradition.

“[Shen Yun] has a lot of hope. They’re not giving in. They’re still searching and not squelching that spirit,” Mrs. Toth said.

Referring to the company’s effort to raise awareness about human rights issues in modern-day China, Rep. Toth said it was “very powerful” and proof that “communism cannot kill beauty.”

Shen Yun Has Become a Major Artistic Event in Italy

This season, Shen Yun is scheduled to perform at least 29 performances in six Italian cities. According to the local presenter, the tickets have been selling fast since the sale began. Before Shen Yun arrived, the tickets for Parma and Udine were already sold out, and Torino and Milan’s weekend performances were nearly sold out. To meet the demand, the local presenter has added performances in Torino, Milan, and Parma, and the tickets have been selling quickly. 

Shen Yun Global Company at the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in Florence, Italy, on December 27. The company presented five performances in Florence December 27–31, all to full houses. (The Epoch Times)

“I Was Deeply Captivated by It” 

Donato Pisanelli at the Shen Yun performance in Florence on December 31 (The Epoch Times)

Donato Pisanelli operates his own construction business in Zürich, Switzerland. He comes from a noble family in southern Italy. He saw Shen Yun in Florence on the afternoon of December 31.

“I actually don’t go to the theater a lot, but my friend knows what I like and strongly recommended that I come see Shen Yun. Sure enough, I was deeply captivated by it the first time I saw it,” Mr. Pisanelli said. 

“The program was rich. Every piece was excellent. All the stories were very interesting... The costumes were very exquisite, and the stage design was also very beautiful.

“The orchestra performed live and was in sync. Everything proceeded in sync, so spectacular. I think this (dance and orchestra) really stunned me. Unforgettable,” he said.

“They’re All Incredible Professionals”

Gianluca Piola, the sporting director of a century-old soccer club, and wife Vivian Bertini at the Shen Yun performance in Florence on the evening of December 30 (The Epoch Times)

Gianluca Piola, the sporting director of a century-old soccer club, and his wife Vivian Bertini saw Shen Yun in Florence on the evening of December 30.

Mr. Piola called the experience “a cultural journey.” “For those who have not come to see the performance, they missed a wonderful experience,” he said. 

“They’re all incredible professionals... So I’m really grateful to all the artists, whether they’re musicians or dancers. Thank you so much!” he said.

“Directly Reaches the Soul”

Matteo Cozza, the president of fashion brand TRANSIT, and his wife Lara Piccolo, the owner of an organic winery, at the Shen Yun performance in Florence on the evening of December 28 (The Epoch Times)

Matteo Cozza, the president of fashion brand TRANSIT, and his wife Lara Piccolo, the owner of an organic winery, saw Shen Yun in Florence on the evening of December 28. They drove three hours from Vicenza in northeastern Italy to Florence to attend the performance. 

“This type of colors, music, and atmosphere was truly so beautiful,” Mr. Cozza said.

“This kind of rigor, tradition, grace, and professionalism – truly, I’d like to salute them!” he said.

Ms. Piccolo said, “She (Shen Yun) had a kind of extraordinary power that directly reaches the soul. It can evoke strong emotional resonance in your heart... That’s a kind of multi-level resonance that goes straight to the soul.”

“I’m Stunned”

Marinela Ardelean, global wine & spirits expert, at the Shen Yun performance in Florence on the afternoon of December 31 (NTD Television)

Marinela Ardelean, global wine & spirits expert, traveled from Venice to see Shen Yun in Florence on the afternoon of December 31.

“I’m stunned... The performance was not only excellent, but delivered a message. This message can be accepted by different cultures around the world. This is a way of presenting oneself, and also a way for different cultures in the globe to harmonize better. For many other countries including Italy, this might be an example to follow,” Ms. Ardelean said. 

“Please keep on doing what you’re doing, and at the same time bring it to those countries in which (Shen Yun) hasn’t performed,” she said. 

Shen Yun New Era Company Begins U.K. Tour 

Shen Yun New Era Company arrived at the Heathrow Airport in London on December 28. The artists were welcomed by local fans with cheers, banners, and flowers. (The Epoch Times)

Principal dancer Marilyn Yang (The Epoch Times)

“Every single piece in our program, it has a moral to the story, it has meaning to it. And I think that’s incredibly important for us to study this culture and this history, so that we can really become—not only a better performer and dancer—but also a better person, a better you than you were yesterday... I hope that everyone in the U.K. can come and enjoy our show,” said principal dancer Marilyn Yang.

This season, Shen Yun is scheduled to perform 47 shows in ten cities and towns in the U.K., beginning with Birmingham on December 29. The tickets have been selling fast and an additional show was added in Northampton and Milton Keynes.

Shen Yun New Era Company’s curtain call at the ICC Birmingham–Hall 1 in Birmingham, United Kingdom, on the afternoon of December 30. The company presented four performances in Birmingham December 29–31, all to full houses. (The Epoch Times)

Birmingham Audiences: “A Production of the Very Highest Quality”

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath at Shen Yun’s performance in Birmingham on December 31 (NTD Television)

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath attended Shen Yun’s performance on New Year’s Eve in Birmingham. 

“It was a real honor to be here, and I’m really delighted to see such a wonderful production with, of course, a very important message,” Lord Hunt said.

“It does really bring home the quality of Chinese culture as it was practiced.

“I think we saw a production of the very highest quality. I just couldn’t praise it enough. It was simply brilliant. So it was a real privilege to be here. And I’m very, very grateful. Thank you,” he said. 

Angela Pryer-Raybould, an international examiner for the National Association of Teachers of Dancing (NATD) and an international championship adjudicator and lecturer, at Shen Yun’s performance in Birmingham on the afternoon of December 30 (NTD Television) 

Angela Pryer-Raybould, an international examiner for the National Association of Teachers of Dancing (NATD) and an international championship adjudicator and lecturer, saw Shen Yun in Birmingham on the afternoon of December 30.

“It’s extremely emotive, real, and honest,” Ms. Pryer-Raybould said.

“I was enthralled...and I felt the whole experience breathtaking because of its truth, because each member of the cast had nothing to hide. So it came with the love of their art form,” she said. 

Shen Yun Launches U.S. Tour

Shen Yun Touring Company at the Boch Center Wang Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts, on December 28. The company presented five performances in Boston December 28–31. (The Epoch Times)

“This Is the Real China”

Jeffrey Kuhner, the host of radio show The Kuhner Report, at Shen Yun’s performance in Boston on the evening of December 30 (NTD Television) 

Jeffrey Kuhner, the host of radio show The Kuhner Report, saw Shen Yun with his family in Boston on the evening of December 30. He had seen Shen Yun previously.

“This is the real China. This is the historic China. This is the cultural, traditional China. I want people to see this because it captures the incredible, artistic treasure, the aesthetic beauty, the spiritual wonder, that the Chinese Communist Party is trying to destroy and obliterate,” Mr. Kuhner said.

“I hope it stays. I hope this continues year after year. Eventually, my dream is to see Shen Yun played in Beijing, in Shanghai, and all across China.

“You see Shen Yun, it will change the way you look at the world. It’s one of these shows: it’s extremely rare, where will you leave spiritually, culturally enriched for the better. 

“And I have to say this. The China that we see in America and in the West, is the China that the Chinese Communist Party wants us to see. This shows us a very different China. This shows us a three-dimensional China. This shows almost an eternal China... You will never see China the same way again,” he said. 

Top photo: Center for the Performing Arts in San Jose, CaliforniaBottom photo: Shen Yun World Company’s curtain call at the Center for the Performing Arts in San Jose on December 29

Shen Yun World Company presented five performances in San Jose December 29–January 1.

“Doing Such a Great Service for Humanity”

Maximilliano Busnardo, a restoration ecologist, at Shen Yun’s matinee in San Jose on December 30

Maximilliano Busnardo, a restoration ecologist, attended Shen Yun’s matinee in San Jose on December 30. “It was an amazing demonstration of human potential,” he said.

Mr. Busnardo said his biggest takeaway from the show was hope. “I already understood that we, each individual, are a manifestation of the powers—the beauty, the kindness, and the love—of nature,” he said.

“[The performance] was incredible and inspirational. It gave me hope that humanity will be free from forces trying to keep us from realizing our true nature. I’ve got to come every year now to see Shen Yun.

“The Communist Party is a cancer on earth. I don’t want to be against anything but I do need to take a stance—people should be allowed to be free, free to discover the truth of who they are.

“Some governments in power are afraid of the innate power that’s in every individual on the planet. It’s our birthright to realize our true nature,” he said.

Mr. Busnardo also enjoyed Shen Yun’s vocalists and thought the whole show had a lot of spiritual depth. “I can’t understand Chinese, but I can read the [translated] words. The lyrics to the songs were really inspirational,” he said.

“[The show] was amazing and incredible. Keep going. You are helping so much and doing such a great service for humanity. Keep going, and thank you very much,” Mr. Busnardo said.

“The Performance Had a Healing Function”

Tina Rivera, secretary at health care company Kaiser Permanente, and her husband at Shen Yun’s matinee in San Jose on December 30 (Minghui.org)

Tina Rivera, a secretary at health care company Kaiser Permanente, and her husband saw Shen Yun’s matinee in San Jose on December 30.

Ms. Rivera shared with the reporter that she had a serious headache before the performance. But when the curtain rose and she began to focus on watching the performance, the pain disappeared without her realizing it.

“The performance had a healing function,” she said. She also felt that the performance was not only beautiful, but also inspirational: “Because we saw that while going through hardships, from beginning to end, [Shen Yun] presented [spiritual] strength and beauty.”

“Not only can the audience see how the artists portrayed through dance everything beautiful as well as achieving victory at the end, but the performance was celebrating the inner persevering strength [of spiritual cultivators] from the beginning till the end,” Ms. Rivera said. She said that she felt hope in the performance. 

“Shen Yun Is a Wonderful Masterpiece”

Brian Thomas, vice president of an industrial engineering company, at Shen Yun’s matinee in San Jose on December 31 (Minghui.org)

Brian Thomas, the vice president of an industrial engineering company, saw Shen Yun’s matinee in San Jose on December 31 with his family.

“The performance left a deep impression on me. Not only do you see their dance techniques, but they also deliver great messages,” Mr. Thomas said.

He saw in the show that “China has rich cultural heritage.” “This goes beyond the current environment. China is more important than I had imagined. From spiritual and other aspects, China has more cultural heritage, far exceeding the scope that we see under the current communist regime,” he said. 

Mr. Thomas also enjoyed the stage design. “The sceneries on the backdrop were very beautiful, great. Combining modern advanced technology with traditional dance arts, very interesting,” he said.

“Shen Yun is a wonderful masterpiece, very successful... I will tell people that Shen Yun is wonderful and delivers beautiful messages and humanity,” he said. 

Upcoming Performances

Shen Yun will continue its 2024 tour with performances in Dallas, Texas, January 5– 7; San Francisco, California, January 4–7; Austin, Texas, January 5–7; Charlotte, North Carolina, January 5–7; Atlanta, Georgia, January 5–14; Cagliari, Italy, January 4–5; Oxford, United Kingdom, January 4–6; Kyoto, Japan, January 4; and Saitama, Japan, January 6–9.