(Minghui.org) The New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts continued to tour France, Italy, the UK, and the United States from the end of January to the beginning of February 2026.
Shen Yun International Company’s curtain call at the fifth sold-out performance at the Palais des Congrès de Paris in Paris, France, on the afternoon of January 26
Shen Yun New York Company opened a sold-out performance at the Teatro Goldoni in Livorno, Italy, on the evening of January 27.
Shen Yun Global Company performed to a second full house at the Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre in Bournemouth, UK, on the afternoon of January 29.
Shen Yun World Company presented two performances at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, Georgia, on January 29.
Shen Yun North America Company performed to a full house at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza in Thousand Oaks, California, on the afternoon of January 31.
Shen Yun New York Company opened a sold-out performance at the Teatro Petruzzelli in Bari, Italy, on the evening of January 30.
“A Whole Range of Emotions”
Antonio Lenzi (Screenshot courtesy of NTD)
Antonio Lenzi, an artist, saw Shen Yun in Ancona, Italy, on February 2.
“Truly unique because it combines choreography, music, colors, and even the environment that is projected using digital techniques, serves to create a whole range of emotions,” said Mr. Lenzi.
“It Truly Brought Joy to My Heart Today”
Lawrence Burr (Screenshot courtesy of NTD)
Lawrence Burr, a retired military officer and recipient of the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire), saw Shen Yun in Bournemouth, UK, on January 29.
“It’s spectacular—absolutely spectacular!” said Mr. Burr.
“Thank you to Shen Yun, because it truly brought joy to my heart today. I think you’ll probably see me again next year,” he said.
“We came because we wanted something colorful,” he explained. “I had heard so many stories about the acrobatics and the balletic movements of the dancers. I’ve seen many performances across Europe—although I hadn’t seen Shen Yun before—but I think this one surpasses virtually every single one of them.
“As a retired man, I have a little money that allows me to go out and look for entertainment,” Mr. Burr said. “But it’s not easy to find something that truly brings joy to your heart. Here, though, it brings color, it brings life—and even a heavenly peach that reminds me of my youth.
“The stories are wonderful,” he said. “They remind me of the kinds of stories one learns about China in childhood. Times have changed, of course, but it’s good to be reminded of what China once was.”
Mr. Burr expressed deep concern about the severe human rights abuses in China. “Having worked with many international organizations, I’m always horrified by what has happened in China,” he said. “The persecution [of faith communities] continues, and I do worry about where China is heading.”
Mr. Burr would like to share a message with the artists: “Keep dancing—because you are bringing joy to everyone.”
“We Need More of that in America”
David Cutts (Screenshot courtesy of NTD)
Dentist David Cutts and his wife had been hoping to see Shen Yun for six years before finally getting the chance on January 28 in Escondido, California.
“We need more of that in America,” Mr. Cutts said, adding that some people are working to “eliminate traditional values.”
“The performance [talked about how] we came from the divine. We are spiritual beings, and our society will rise or fall based on whether we get that message out to everyone. I so admire what [Shen Yun] is doing,” he said.
“We were divine at one time. You can use different semantics and words for that, but I think everyone knows that. To say it and to see it being put out there so honestly and forthrightly and decently and wonderfully is inspiring,” he said.
Mr. Cutts believes what sets Shen Yun artists apart is their dedication to raising awareness about the ongoing human rights issues in present-day China under communist rule.
“Very few people have a chance to be a part of a mission, a purpose as big as yours,” he said. “So, thank you. I see who you are, and I see what you’re doing, and I feel like we’re all in the same team as you.”
“It Was Really Inspiring”
Josie Drude and her daughter (Screenshot courtesy of NTD)
Josie Drude, a business owner, saw Shen Yun with her daughter in Escondido on January 28.
“I loved it. It’s very surprising how colorful the costumes were, and I wasn’t really expecting the spiritual aspect of it. And I just loved it. It was really inspiring,” said Ms. Drude.
“People are lonely and sad and disconnected, and they need to know that we’re all connected through that love of the Divine. I think all our cultures can see it a different way, and it still resonated, even though I have a different religion, maybe we share that same searching for the Divine.
“So grateful that this has gone from one troupe to eight, and that just showing the need that the people have to see this and just the beauty, the way that the directors, the writers, the way that they are giving it to the world with all the color and all the dancing and just the smiles and the message of kindness, it’s great,” Ms. Drude said.
“Rediscover the Divinity that We Have Lost”
Betty Simone (first from right) and her family (Screenshot courtesy of The Epoch Times)
Betty Simone, an attorney, saw Shen Yun with her family in Italy’s Bari on January 31.
Ms. Simone felt especially inspired by the vocal performance of the soprano. “That song was very unique. It seemed to be reminding us to rediscover the divinity that we have lost. Because hedonism and a fast-faced world are preventing us from realizing this. This world makes us chaotic and turns us overly materialistic during the daily hustle and bustle. The lyrics are reminding us that besides the material body, we all have divinity,” she said.
“It is truly important to hold on to kindness. In today’s society, kindness is scarce. They [Shen Yun] are among the few who still uphold these values,” she said.
“The Performance Can Warm the Audience’s Hearts”
Arnaud Cognet (Screenshot courtesy of NTD)
Arnaud Cognet, manager of a public construction company, saw Shen Yun in Paris on January 25.
“The whole performance made us dazzled and captivated ... Everything was outstanding. I also heard the performances by Chinese instruments, which completely blew us away. The timbre was extremely beautiful,” he said.
“Walking out of the theater, we want to be kind to everyone. Unfortunately, we are in Paris so it’s a bit challenging to achieve this. But we really should try to spread this message, do more good deeds, and stay calm and kind. Hopefully Shen Yun will make people gradually change. It is not easy with the current situation, especially we see that the international situation is very complicated. Therefore, the performance can warm the audience’s hearts,” Mr. Cognet said.
“Many Unforgettable Moments”
Kurt Kistler (Screenshot courtesy of NTD)
Kurt Kistler, vice president of a construction company, saw Shen Yun in Atlanta on January 30.
“There were many unforgettable moments in this performance. First was that unparalleled precision. Every step was connected seamlessly. It could be called perfection. Additionally, my favorite was Shen Yun’s effort into storytelling. All performers clearly had a deep understanding of this and dedicated considerable effort to it. They did their best to let the audience feel the emotions they wanted to convey. This dedication makes me sincerely admire them and was also exceptionally beautiful,” he said.
“To me, it was more like a history class, allowing me to have a deeper understanding of traditional Chinese culture and people’s lifestyles prior to communism. I like to read and already knew a lot of related knowledge. But witnessing this history and culture vividly being presented in front of my eyes was truly fascinating.
“I will tell people that if you have seen a performance that you liked a lot, you have to come see Shen Yun, because you very likely will like it even more. People see different kinds of performances, but Shen Yun is absolutely different,” he said.
For more information about performance times, locations, and tickets, please visit www.shenyun.com.
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