Principal Violist Rachel Chen: Shen Yun Press Conference at Lincoln Center

"Growing up in the West, the persecution always felt a bit distant because nothing actually happened to me personally. But a few years back, during a show in Holland.

It was intermission and a Chinese lady came up to the pit and I don't remember exactly what the acknowledgement was, but she acknowledged our Erhu player at the time. I asked her who the lady was, and she responded, we were in the same labor camp together.

In that moment, the weight of our mission felt very real. We weren't just here to entertain. We have a mission of reviving Chinese culture and sharing the stories of practitioners in China whose voices cannot be heard. "

At the Lincoln Center press conference, Principal Violist Rachel Chen speaks about the bomb threats, how Shen Yun gave her pride in her heritage, and why it became her spiritual home.


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