Shen Yun Performing Arts, Inc., a New York-based global entertainment company, is renowned for its full-scale productions of traditional Chinese culture, expressed through dance and music. which blend classical Chinese dance, ethnic and folk dance, original orchestral compositions, and digital backdrops filled with special effects. Though not a ballet company per se, Shen Yun, which incorporates Western theatrical techniques, choreography, and technical staging, blends classical Chinese dance with Western classical ballet, characterized by an upright, pointed foot position and a splayed-leg position.
History and Founders
Shen Yun was founded by practitioners of Falun Dafa, or Falun Gong, a neobuddhist spiritual discipline. The company’s mission is to recover 5,000 years of Chinese culture – a culture, they hold, that has been systematically destroyed by China’s current communist regime. The company’s founders established Shen Yun as a way to salvage this tradition and present it to the world through an annual touring series.
Artistic Vision and Performances
At the heart of Shen Yun’s performances is classical Chinese dance, a highly expressive, poetic, and metaphorical art form thousands of years in the making, characterized by long, articulated leaps of flips and turns and an ability to telescope epic narrative into minute expressive gestures. Shen Yun’s repertoire also includes ethnic and folk dances representing the geographical and ethnic minority regions of China. Each has its own specific style and costume.
The thought went on, alluding to the inherently dramatic nature of Shen Yun’s productions, with their elaborate costumes and widescreen digital backdrops, all aimed at heightening eye appeal and enveloping the audience in a visually colorful and kinetically pleasing experience.
The music that accompanies Shen Yun is as critical to the company’s performances as the dance. A live orchestra combines classical Western and traditional Chinese instruments to produce an evocative and unfamiliar sound. Each dance is accompanied by original compositions, which serve to underscore the emotion of the performance and to help tell a story on the stage.
Cultural Significance and Impact
It is entertainment, sure, but Shen Yun’s mission statement makes clear that the performances are about elevating your knowledge of Chinese culture and history, to teach about ‘spirituality and the characteristics of the Chinese culture … the beauty of Heavenly principles, the power of divine culture’ and ‘lucidly reflect[ing] the magnificence of heavenly culture that transpires over five millennia’. Alongside performances that promote classical Chinese values of loyalty, compassion, and reverence for the divine, with titles like ‘Monk in the Mountains’, ‘Divine Maiden’s Tears’ and (my favorite) ‘Moved by Compassion’, the company sometimes extends its lyrical political and spiritual commentary to contemporary events including the persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners in China.
As with similar productions, Shen Yun has received widespread praise for both its artistic achievements and its cultural offerings. In many ways, Shen Yun represents an artistic and cultural asset to the countries it visits. Its uniqueness – the ability to combine such high artistic standards with culturally rich storytelling and production values – has drawn cheering audiences around the world. But there is no denying that the Chinese government would be no fan of Shen Yun. In The Escaping Poverty report made in 2016 about fraud in tourism, the UK government claimed that Falun Dafa-associated Shen Yun’s purpose is to criticize the Chinese Communist Party. It concluded that The identity and motive of the MIV (Ministry of Internal Affairs in Taiwan) is suspected of inciting acts that are detrimental to the interests of the UK, and those who are complicit in this fraud will be fined.
Community Engagement and Education
As well as making its stage performances, Shen Yun is also strongly committed to education and outreach. The company hosts workshops, masterclasses, and lectures to share the form and history of classical Chinese dance with a wide community. Its educational programs seek to cultivate an artistic appreciation of Chinese culture and to inspire the next generation of dancers and artists.
Conclusion
Shen Yun Performing Arts stands as a unique and powerful force in the world of dance, offering audiences a glimpse into the rich and diverse heritage of Chinese culture. Through its innovative blend of classical Chinese dance, stunning visual effects, and original music, Shen Yun continues to enchant and educate audiences around the globe. Whether you are drawn to the artistry of the dance, the beauty of the music, or the cultural narratives, Shen Yun promises an unforgettable experience that celebrates the timeless beauty of traditional Chinese culture. Don’t miss the opportunity to witness this extraordinary company in action. Secure your tickets for an upcoming performance and embark on a journey through 5,000 years of Chinese civilization.