(Minghui.org) During New Year week, Shen Yun Performing Arts’ eight touring companies presented 39 performances in France, Poland, Italy, the United Kingdom, Latvia, Taiwan, and the United States.
Shen Yun New York Company performed to a full house at the Teatro Regio Torino in Torino, Italy, on January 3, 2026.
Shen Yun Global Company’s full house at The ICC Birmingham–Hall 1 in Birmingham, the UK, on January 2
Shen Yun Touring Company at a packed house at the Dailes Theatre in Riga, Latvia, on January 4
Shen Yun North America Company at a packed house at the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco, California, on the afternoon of January 3
Shen Yun New World Company at a full house at the Jones Hall for the Performing Arts in Houston, Texas, on the evening of December 30
Shen Yun World Company at the Johnny Mercer Theatre in Savannah Civic Center in Savannah, Georgia, on the evening of December 30
Shen Yun Sells Out in Torino, Italy
The Shen Yun New York Company presented six performances in Torino, Italy, December 30 to January 4. Tickets for all performances were sold out in advance.
“Message of Salvation”
Alberto Boetti and his wife
Judge Alberto Boetti and his wife saw Shen Yun in Torino on January 3.
“This is a message of salvation,” said Mr. Boetti. “Just light, light. It descended from the heavens and illuminated the world. It reshapes the hearts of all who seek salvation. This message has brought great hope.
“Its messages also included freedom, kindness, compassion, as well as restoration of ancient traditions.”
“Enchanting”
Marco Carrel and his wife
Marco Carrel, an Aosta Valley councilor, and his wife saw Shen Yun in Torino on January 3.
“The performance was so beautiful. The trip was well worth it. It was enchanting,” said Mr. Carrel.
“Soaring Gracefully Through the Air”
Ettore Mantelli and his family
Ettore Mantelli, mayor of San Raffaele Cimena, and his family saw Shen Yun in Torino on December 31.
“They were great! It was as if they were soaring gracefully through the air. Amazing. Truly excellent,” Mr. Mantelli said.
“This Performance Brings Inner Peace”
Ginetta Santoni and her husband
Ginetta Santoni, mayor of Comune di Dro, and her husband saw Shen Yun in Torino on January 4.
“Tranquility and light—this performance brings inner peace,” said Ms. Santoni.
“Spiritually Elevating”
Muraviova Irina
Muraviova Irina, a former art critic, saw Shen Yun in Torino on December 30.
“I’m very glad to be able to enjoy this spiritually elevating performance. As an audience member who is used to watching Russian and European classical dancing, Shen Yun performers’ harmonious emotions, graceful postures, and solemn music were all completely new experiences to me,” she said.
“I commend the divinity, kindness, and spiritual elevation. This is completely different from the material success solely obtained in the secular world. There was a greater force delivering messages. It was divine and extraordinary and not something that could be done by ordinary people. Only through the beauty brought by Shen Yun’s art and music, and as a member of the great international traditional dance [classical Chinese dance], can they make important contributions to peace, progress, and prosperity.”
Shen Yun Fills 4,000-seat Arena in Bordeaux, France
Shen Yun International Company’s sixth and final performance at the Arkea Arena in Bordeaux, France, on December 31
December 27-31, the Shen Yun International Company presented six performances in Bordeaux. The 4,000-seat arena sold out every show, drawing nearly 24,000 audience members.
“We Were Deeply Moved—Extremely So”
Marcel Moinard
Marcel Moinard, mayor of the town of Amuré, saw Shen Yun in Bordeaux on December 31.
“The performance was extraordinarily beautiful and rich in profound Chinese cultural meaning,” he said. “What impressed me most was the way Shen Yun interprets Chinese history, as well as how it reflects on the future.
“The artistic standard is remarkable. I can’t think of anyone in France who could achieve this level. The integration of all elements—the digital backdrop, the live orchestra, and the performers on stage—was truly magnificent,” he added.
“This performance surpasses simple beauty. It is divine art—and yes, it is truly beautiful.”
The benevolence, compassion, and spiritual dimension conveyed on stage allowed Mr. Moinard to feel a genuine connection with the divine. Having survived a very serious accident and a near-death experience, he said he could feel that “the divine exists within each of our souls.”
“For me, personally, that connection was there from the very beginning—it touched something deep within,” he said.
He added that the inspiration and sense of connection Shen Yun offers are “exactly the kind of hope and exchange the world needs today,” especially in a time when, as he put it, “people talk less about the celestial and more about weapons, about killing and destroying one another.”
Mr. Moinard further reflected on how the performance bridges the past and the future. “We can feel this sense of the future,” he said. “Although the performance is taking place in France, some elements clearly point toward humanity’s future. That was the most fascinating aspect for me.
“This is not just a cultural presentation,” he said. “It is also a kind reminder for humanity’s future, conveyed with goodwill.”
Mr. Moinard said he felt a sense of responsibility to tell people, “Come and see the performance. Truly, you must come. I can tell you, we were deeply moved—extremely so.”
Audience Member in Birmingham, the UK: “I Cried at the First Dance”
Shen Yun Global Company presented four performances to full houses in Birmingham, the UK, January 2-4.
Stephanie Baines
Stephanie Baines, a Chinese medicine doctor and company director, saw Shen Yun in Birmingham on January 3. She said she didn’t want it to end.
“I cried at the first dance, so I sat there thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, my mascara is going to start running,’” Ms. Baines said.
“There was so much expression, so much love in the dance, and so much came through with everything. And I just watched it, and I was like a little child, just didn’t want to blink to miss any of it. So incredible!
“I think it’s a beautiful mission, considering everything that they have faced in China. I think being brave enough to step outside of that and to spread the word and to show the whole world the beauty of what they do... it’s an incredible feat.
“I’m sure they face a lot of prejudice and I’m sure there’s a lot of challenges behind everything, but it’s brave. It’s brave and it’s beautiful,” she said.
Shen Yun Performs to Packed Houses in Latvia
Shen Yun Touring Company presented three performances to packed houses in Riga, Latvia, on January 3 and 4.
“Connection Between the Performance and Traditional Latvian Culture”
Dace Melbārde
Dace Melbārde, the Minister for Education and Science of Latvia, saw Shen Yun in Riga on January 4.
“Very inspiring. The entire show was filled with spirituality and meaning. I very much appreciate this kind of intangible cultural heritage. This is the foundation of the whole performance. The performance is based on traditional culture. I commend this very much. In fact, I can see the connection between the performance and traditional Latvian culture. Our culture is also based on reincarnation,” she said.
“The Highest Level That Humans Can Reach”
Elīna Šimkus
Vestards Šimkus
Artist couple Elīna and and Vestards Šimkus saw Shen Yun in Riga on January 3.
“I’m very moved. I’m overwhelmed by a variety of emotions. This performance presented the purest essence of what is also the most important to our family—the beauty of culture. That kind of absolute, divine beauty and truth and traditional values—this was truly a breathtakingly beautiful and magnificent show,” said Elīna, a soprano.
“[Shen Yun made me feel] absolutely clear and pure, and inspired me to pursue true values, morality, and a pure and bright life,” she said.
“That kind of beauty was the highest level that humans can reach. The spiritual aspect of the messages deeply touched me. It brought us a truly divine spiritual inspiration,” said Vestards, an award-winning pianist and composer.
Shen Yun’s Performances in Poland Sold Out in Advance
Shen Yun Touring Company’s first performance at the CKK Jordanki Concert Hall in Toruń, Poland, on December 28
Tickets for Shen Yun’s three performances in Toruń on December 28 and 29 were sold out in advance.
“I Could Feel That Energy”
Sznajder-Szczepańską, owner of an accounting firm, saw Shen Yun in Toruń on December 29.
“I could feel that energy. I felt as if I was lifted high in the air, flew towards the sky, and approached heaven,” she said.
American Audiences: “It’s Very Entertaining”
Craig and Kimberly Eicher
City council member and former police chief Craig Eicher and his wife, Kimberly, saw Shen Yun in San Francisco on January 3.
“It’s very entertaining,” Craig said. “It’s impressive to see the orchestra playing while coordinating with the dancers.”
Kimberly chimed in that she also had a wonderful time. “I’ve liked them all,” she said. “The dancing, the costumes—it’s beautiful. I love the live music.”
The couple was especially moved by the story-based dance that transported the audience to present-day China, delivering a message that, if people are willing to uphold traditional moral values and treat each other with kindness, the divine will aid us in times of trouble.
Craig agreed with Shen Yun’s mission of reviving the beauty and goodness of pre-communist China and appreciated the company’s effort to raise awareness about the ongoing human rights issues in present-day China. “Truths are important,” he said. “The world needs to know what’s going on.”
“I Was Very Inspired”
Tony Hall
Tony Hall, a former member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, saw Shen Yun in San Francisco on January 3.
“It was a very physical, intricate performance of what life and all of its ensuing emotions is about,” he said.
“It covered every emotion in mankind in a traditional, respectful, unbelievable performance. I was very inspired. Very inspirational.”
As a Christian, Mr. Hall loved the spiritual element of traditional Chinese culture portrayed in the performance. He felt the artists demonstrated the moral values in a beautiful way.
“Most people here in America have to be exposed to that—the world over. I think it’s wonderful how they’re able to encapsulate it in a performance. [It covers at] its roots, morality and ethics. It’s all about life—the goodness of life, the truthfulness of life—that’s what I like,” he said.
“I think anybody that denies [the divine] after seeing this performance isn’t thinking right. It’s what we need today. We need more of that; it transcends all ethnic groups, and this Chinese performance today shows it. It was very, very good. I enjoyed it,” Mr. Hall said.
“Beauty and Passion”
Kevin Freeman
TV host Kevin Freeman saw Shen Yun in Dallas, Texas, on January 3.
“The dance was beautiful and the storytelling. I really enjoyed learning the history,” he said.
“It was wonderful to see China before the influence of the CCP and just the beauty and the passion that was displayed.
“The story was actually well explained in the dance. It was nice to have the emcees come out and explain a little bit in advance so you knew what to look for. I found it fascinating.
“The dance tells a story, the music tells a story, and both were incorporated here beautifully,” he said.
A former economic warfare consultant to the U.S. Department of Defense, Mr. Freeman has studied traditional Chinese culture and said Shen Yun reinforced his understanding.
“I’m a big admirer of the Chinese culture. I’m not a huge fan of the Communist Party,” he said.
“As an American citizen, I believe in liberty, justice, and the American way. The Chinese Communist Party is... in opposition to individual liberty... but I think the Chinese people are wonderful people. I think the culture is a wonderful culture and I admire it a good amount.”
“The music was fabulous,” he said. “It was entertaining, upbeat and positive in its approach. So the music and the dance worked very well together to tell the story.”
“I absolutely recommend people to check [Shen Yun] out. It’s interesting; it’s nothing like a cultural experience that you will [usually] encounter. It gives insight into China before communism, which is a beautiful thing,” Mr. Freeman said.
For more information about performance times, locations, and tickets, please visit www.shenyun.com.
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