From April 15 to 19, audiences at Philadelphia’s Miller Theatre experienced a Shen Yun Performing Arts production featuring classical Chinese dance accompanied by a live orchestra and enhanced with digital stage backdrops. The performance combined elaborate costumes, choreography, and storytelling drawn from traditional Chinese history and culture.

Founded in 2006, Shen Yun is a New York–based company that tours internationally with multiple equally sized troupes, presenting a newly created program each year intended to highlight pre-communist Chinese cultural traditions.

The company has also been the subject of reported political pressure and disruptions, including claims of transnational repression and more than 150 bomb threats at venues hosting its performances, none of which have been verified as credible but have in some cases led to show interruptions or cancellations in cities such as Toronto.

At the April 15 opening in Philadelphia, a fire alarm was triggered during the performance, causing a brief delay before the show continued as scheduled.

Shen Yun audience members gathers at the front of the Miller Theatre following the activation of the theaters’ fire alarm. The alarm was determined to be unfounded and the show continues as scheduled. (Image: Julie Wang/Vision Times)
Ron and Rosemarie Newman attend their first Shen Yun performance at the Miller Theatre in Philadelphia. (Image: Julie Wang/Vision Times)

‘Marvelous from the beginning to the end’

Ron and Rosemarie Newman told Vision Times that they were going to recommend the performance to their friends and described the show as “beautiful… very interesting” and “very fun.”

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They said they enjoyed the “good moral lessons throughout” and that it was hard to pick which aspect of the show was their favorite. “All of the stories brought it to life.” 

Alfredo Aredalo, a welder, and Cheryl Klein, a retired teacher loved the experience.

“I thought it was fantastic. I am so happy that I saw it… the colors, the dancing, the singing, the music.. It was wonderful,” Cheryl said. 

Alfredo said the stories were easy to follow, particularly the part of the show that told the story of communist persecution. “It was easy to understand, easy to follow the story,” he said. 

Alfredo Aredalo and Cheryl Klein pose for a picture following a Shen Yun performance at Miller Theatre in Philadelphia. (Image: Julie Wang/Vision Times)

Glenn Losch and Joanne Perry had a similar experience.

“It was a great story. You could really follow along just with their expressions. They told the story without saying a word and you could really follow along with what they were saying,” Glenn told Vision Times. “I will probably come back next year,” Cheryl added. 

Despite attempts to silence Shen Yun’s artists, its global tour continues. In its 20th anniversary year, the company plans approximately 800 performances across 200 cities worldwide. 

Glenn Losch and Joanne Perry loved the performance and plans to come back next year for an entirely new performance by Shen Yun Performing Arts. (Image: Julie Wang/Vision Times)
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