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What makes Shen Yun unique?
One of the things that makes Shen Yun unique is that, in addition to the surface artistry and beauty, it honors the spiritual essence of Chinese civilization—ideas like harmony among Heaven, Earth, and humankind. But this is exactly the aspect of Chinese traditions that the communist regime has been trying to destroy.
How long is a Shen Yun performance?
A Shen Yun performance is roughly two hours, plus intermission. There are about 15 short dance pieces in each performance, which offer variety in terms of both pacing and style. Some pieces feature stories from ancient Chinese history or mythology, others from contemporary Chinese history, while still others are meant to merely feature the dance form in the setting of different dynasties.
How long did Falun Dafa endure?
In fact, the number of Falun Dafa practitioners had exceeded the number of Chinese Communist Party members. Today, after enduring 20 years of torture, imprisonment, and killing, these spiritual seekers persevere in their faith and continue to resist, always through nonviolent means.
How many solos are there in Shen Yun?
Interspersed between the dances are a total of 2-3 classical vocal and sometimes instrumental solos. Shen Yun productions are unforgettable for their combination of music, dance, brilliant costumes, and animated backdrops—which contain a few surprises!
What is the About section of Shen Yun?
The About section will give you a good overview of what to expect, the incredible art form of classical Chinese dance, and Shen Yun’s mission. The Explore section is a wonderfully rich portal with loads of information about the specific legends, historical figures, costumes, and dynasties featured in our performances; it’s also a great section to revisit after the performance to explore further whatever interests you most.
Where are Shen Yun costumes made?
From the ethereal garb of heavenly maidens to the emperor’s dragon robes to dainty flowerpot shoes, every piece is handmade in New York state and individually tailored.
What does "shen yun" mean?
Shen Yun means, “The beauty of heavenly beings dancing.” Sounds magical, right? It is!
How do they afford all those posters?
Those Shen Yun posters everywhere? The ubiquity is the result of hardworking volunteers on the ground, distributing flyers and arranging the shows with venues in exchange for just a couple of tickets to the show.
Does this have anything to do with that random anti-China newspaper that shows up on my porch for some reason?
And it, too, has links to Falun Gong. If you've ever opened it up, you've probably seen the same type of anti-China messaging you'd find in Shen Yun .
How many followers did Falun Gong have?
Falun Gong grew quickly in the 1990s. By 1999, the group had between 70 million and 100 million followers, according to the New York Times. The group became a significant voice of protest in a country that, at the time, had a population of nearly 1.3 billion.
Why is Falun Gong so controversial?
Falun Gong is controversial for its bigoted beliefs, and is also harshly persecuted within China.
What is the purpose of Shen Yun?
The purpose of Shen Yun is to demonstrate the evils of China's communist party and its beliefs. The show is fervently anti-atheist, anti-evolution, anti-Mao Zedong, and anti-Karl Marx. Shen Yun also highlights specific examples of China's communist party persecuting Falun Gong. The show includes a "dance with the organ harvesting," according to ...
Where are Shen Yun dancers trained?
Shen Yun/YouTube. There are a few different troupes that tour the world. Dancers are trained at the Fei Tan Academy of the Arts , which is part of a 427-acre refuge for Falun Gong adherents in upstate New York. Profits from Shen Yun shows go towards maintaining the academy.
Where does the money from Falun Gong go?
The money made from shows, according to the Los Angeles Times, goes back to the Fei Tian Academy of the Arts , which can then train more Shen Yun players. The organization has its own budget, which is publicly published, and appears to be financially independent from the rest of Falun Gong.
Why was Shen Yun cancelled?
Shen Yun was scheduled to perform in Hong Kong in January 2010, but the performance was cancelled after the government of Hong Kong refused entry visas to Shen Yun's production crew. Attempts to shut down the show have also been reported by theatres and local governments in various countries including Ecuador, Ireland, Germany and Sweden.
How many performers are there in Shen Yun?
It is operated by the Falun Gong new religious movement. Shen Yun is composed of seven performing arts companies, with a total of approximately 480 performers. Shen Yun has performed in front of millions and has toured more than 130 cities across Europe, North America, Oceania, and Asia.
Why is Shen Yun controversial?
Shen Yun performances have received audience and critic criticism for promoting sectarian doctrines and negative views toward evolution, atheism, and homosexuality. The group is promoted by The Epoch Times, a media outlet affiliated with Falun Gong.
What is the central tenet of the group's wide-ranging belief system?
But the central tenet of the group's wide-ranging belief system is its fierce opposition to communism. In 2000, Li founded Epoch Times to disseminate Falun Gong talking points to American readers. Six years later he launched Shen Yun as another vehicle to promote his teachings to mainstream Western audiences.
What are the elements of Shen Yun?
In addition to classical Han Chinese dance, Shen Yun also includes elements of Yi, Miao, Tibetan and Mongolian dance . Shen Yun performs three core elements of classical Chinese dance: bearing (emotion, cultural and ethnic flavor), form (expressive movements and postures), and technical skill (physical techniques of jumping, flipping, and leaping).
What is Falun Gong?
The Epoch Media Group, along with Shen Yun, a dance troupe known for its ubiquitous advertising and unsettling performances, make up the outreach effort of Falun Gong, a relatively new spiritual practice that combines ancient Chinese meditative exercises, mysticism and often ultraconservative cultural worldviews.
Where is Shen Yun located?
Shen Yun was founded in 2006 by Chinese expatriate adherents of Falun Gong, and is based at Falun Gong's 427-acre (1.7 km 2) Dragon Springs compound in Deerpark, New York, near where the new religious group's leader and founder, Li Hongzhi, and many of his followers also reside.