Review missed point of Chinese dance

The reviewer who wrote “Shen Yun sparkles despite unexpected agenda” misunderstands the mission and historical context of Shen Yun Performing Arts and misses the artistic power of the acts he criticizes. As ads in the Daily Herald made clear, Shen Yun is reviving traditional Chinese culture — a divinely inspired culture. The essence of this culture includes classical Chinese, ethnic and folk dance, but also includes the cultivation of virtue and finding meaning in life through one’s relation to the divine.

While the reviewer had high praise for the bulk of Shen Yun’s performance, he singled out two dances portraying the persecution of the spiritual practice of Falun Gong for criticism.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has sought to destroy China’s traditional culture and replace it with atheism and materialism. Falun Gong is an ancient Chinese belief that teaches cultivating three traditional virtues: truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. The CCP understands its efforts to “eradicate” Falun Gong to be the most important issue in China today, and it is.

The dances portraying the persecution of Falun Gong each show one moment in the largest religious persecution in the world today, in the greatest human rights violations in China today, and in the struggle by the Chinese people to reclaim their heritage from the tyranny of the CCP. Audiences regularly report being moved to tears by these dances and single them out as the most moving and most memorable part of Shen Yun. This profound response can only be produced by great art.

Sen Yang

President

Mid-US Falun Dafa Association