VANCOUVER—Rebecca Blissett saw Shen Yun Performing Arts on April 9, 2026, at Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
Ms. Blissett brought her mother to Shen Yun as an early birthday present.
“I hadn’t realized the history behind this one and how well it was told in the performance. It was really interwoven nicely. The segments were a perfect length. There was no dragging on,” said Ms. Blissett, a writer and photographer.
Shen Yun, based in New York, is on a mission to present “China before communism” and to revive people’s connection to 5,000 years of Chinese civilization and culture.
“I think it’s great that the history’s been kept alive through performance and art, and it’s got a great message, it’s so uplifting,” Ms. Blissett said.
With 5,000 years of history and literature to draw on, Shen Yun can put on an all-new production every year.
“I think it’s great that you’re exposing [Shen Yun] to different cultures, and more people are learning about it. It’s a message that is very uplifting regardless of your background—a great cultural event to attend,” Ms. Blissett said.
Shen Yun’s artists are trained in classical Chinese dance, one of the most comprehensive dance systems in the world.
“The dancers and the costumes were amazing. I understand they’re handmade, as my mom just let me know,” Ms. Blissett said.
Although Shen Yun is sharing the beauty of Chinese culture with the world, Shen Yun is unable to perform in China.
“I think it’s good for people to learn about it as far as China’s concerned. It starts with the creator, ends with the creator. Everything in between. I thought it was a really nice, well-done story,” Ms. Blissett said.
Although technology has made it easier to access information, Ms. Blissett believes that people have been absorbed into a narrow portion of the internet and have become detached from what is happening in the rest of the world.
“I think it’s one of those things where people are so insulated in their own online worlds these days that they are not necessarily aware of or forget or are exposed to other cultures and what they’re dealing with,” she said.
Reporting by Jane Yang and Maria Han.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.
