(Minghui.org) New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts kicked off its 2025 world tour on December 23, 2024, in Nagoya, Japan, and Atlanta, Georgia, the United States.
This is Shen Yun’s 19th tour season since its founding. This year, Shen Yun’s eight touring companies are scheduled to present their all-new 2025 program in about 200 cities in over 20 countries across five continents.
Around two weeks prior to Shen Yun’s performances in Atlanta, the local host received an email threatening mass shootings at the venue if the performances were to be held. Despite the threat of violence, Shen Yun proceeded with its opening show on December 23 and performed to a packed house.
“The Beauty of What’s in Our Hearts and Mankind”
Atlanta City Council member Michael Julian Bond attended Shen Yun’s opening night on December 23 and personally presented the artists with a proclamation on behalf of the city council.
“You know, proclamations from the city of Atlanta are the highest awards that the city can present to a person, a place, or an event,” Mr. Bond said after seeing the performance. “This fits the bill.”
“These performers, the mission of Shen Yun, all of this, holds to what Atlanta values, and that is the highest expression… of demonstrating through art, through music, through performance, the beauty of what’s in our hearts and mankind,” Mr. Bond said.
“The city of Atlanta is recognising that and wanting to lend our voice in support of the mission of Shen Yun.
“It was just magnificent and overwhelming… The people here tonight, everybody is just—you can see the impact on the faces of everyone who’s attended. It’s just been phenomenal.
“Every part of this performance was as near to perfect as a human being can imagine… I am just personally moved. I believe that it’s an expression physically through the choreography, physically through the performance of the music, physically through the demonstration and performance as a voice, trying to demonstrate and ascend beyond the regular human experience.
“We want you to come back often, and to keep going and to keep extending this message all around the world,” he said.
“People’s Eyes Lit Up”
Toshiro Sugimoto, Director of the Judicial Scrivener’s Office, saw Shen Yun’s first performance in Japan on December 23.
“As soon as the curtain opened, people’s eyes lit up,” said Mr. Sugimoto.
“The background of Shen Yun’s performance is very beautiful, giving people the feeling that the divine have descended from heaven to earth… The connection is incredible and really impressive,” he said.
“Beautiful Soul of the Dancers”
Naruhisa Tamura, chairman of the Japan Drone Safety Flight Promotion Association, saw Shen Yun in Nagoya on December 23. He said the performance was “exquisite” and deeply moved him.
“I feel the beautiful soul of the dancers,” Mr. Tamura said.
“The existence of traditional culture is the cornerstone of today’s society. Without traditional culture, nothing today would be possible,” he said.
“Uplifted and Refreshed”
Hideharu Hibi, a professor at Nagoya University’s Graduate School of Medicine, saw Shen Yun in Nagoya on December 23.
Mr. Hibi was deeply impressed with Shen Yun’s digital animated backdrop. He described one scene, saying, “In heaven, a flock of peacocks flies through the sea of clouds, instantly transforming into celestial maidens who dance gracefully amidst the ethereal mist. That magnificent beauty of the heavenly realm has me completely uplifted and refreshed. ”
“The segment that depicted the arrival of the Creator and the rotation of the Dharma Wheel was deeply impactful. To convey such a spiritual theme through dance was profound,” said Mr. Hibi.
“I could see how the cultures of China’s many ethnic groups are woven together. The program gave me a vivid sense of China’s thousands of years of history and cultural depth.
“The music tonight was truly healing for the body and mind. Music has the ability to harmonize and balance the body internally, and this aligns with the unique perspective of Eastern medicine,” he said.
“I Was Deeply Moved”
Fumihiro Kato, director of Nippon Marubun Construction and a Rotary Club member, saw Shen Yun in Nagoya, on December 23.
“I am very moved… The whole atmosphere is great, and I was deeply moved,” Mr. Kato said.
Mr. Kato said the long history of Chinese civilisation, as presented by Shen Yun through two hours of music and dance, gave him much to think about.
“I think about the past and the future, as well as the history of the world, which makes me feel the depth of Chinese culture,” he said.
He added that he believed Shen Yun’s message is a universal one, and will have a multifaceted impact on the world.
“Really Incredible”
Mitsunori Kato, president of an architectural design firm, and his wife Kanako saw Shen Yun in Nagoya on December 23.
“If you miss Shen Yun, you will regret it for the rest of your life,” Mr. Kato said.
“What amazed me most was how the dancers landed in complete silence. It was as though they were weightless, like the wind,” he said.
“Gymnasts usually make a ‘thud’ sound when they land spins or jumps, but the Shen Yun dancers made no sound when walking or landing—this was really incredible,” he added.
“It felt as though their legs were extending beyond 180 degrees. Not only that, but every fingertip and toe seemed to be in perfect harmony and constant motion,” said Mrs. Kato.
“Buddhism came to Japan from China, but in today’s world, whether people still believe in God is a complex question. That said, I do believe there is still a deep, inherent respect for the divine in people’s hearts. It’s just that society’s pressures can lead people to follow the crowd, and before they know it, they’ve forgotten about God and the divine,” shared Mr. Kato.
The couple was also impressed by the erhu solo performance. “I’ve listened to many erhu performances before, but today’s was the best I’ve ever heard. It truly touched me,” he said.
“The music was so beautiful, and the musician’s technique was beyond words. This was the first time I’ve experienced how deeply emotions can be conveyed through the erhu. I’ve heard performances by famous Chinese erhu players, but today’s female performer was absolutely exceptional,” added Mrs. Kato.
“An Excellent Performance”
Company director Motoyuki Suzuki saw Shen Yun in Nagoya on December 23.
“It was wonderful. It was my first time seeing Shen Yun and I was very surprised,” Mr. Suzuki said.
“The backdrop was so beautiful. The method of descending from the sky interested me very much. When the performers disappeared, they became part of the scene in the backdrop; or they jumped onto the stage from the scene. This was truly an interesting experience.
“This is an excellent performance. I hope it can be more widely known,” he said.
“I Learned a Lot”
Singer and composer Ekura saw Shen Yun in Nagoya on December 24.
“The backdrop that was full of realism was designed exquisitely. Especially the scenes where the performers ‘jumped into’ the images in the backdrop then came back to the stage – truly stunned me. This kind of technology makes you feel as if you’re really flying in the sky. Truly eye-opening,” she said.
Ekura also spoke about the tenor’s performance. “His voice, the transition from bass to treble was excellent. His timbre and techniques, such as vibrato and breathing, were all controlled perfectly. I truly enjoyed it,” she said.
“I also produce music. It’s already great to be able to hear a live orchestra, but this performance was able to perfectly blend scenes, story and music… As someone in the art field, I learned a lot from it,” she said.
“Must See Shen Yun Once During the Lifetime”
Teai Arima, a classical ballet instructor and a former professional classical ballet dancer, saw Shen Yun in Nagoya on December 24.
“Compared to the jumping in classical ballet, the dancers (of Shen Yun) did not make any sound when they landed. Their movements were very light, as if they paused in the air. That beauty of the neatness and orderliness of the entirety left me with such a deep impression,” she said.
“Also the arms and fingertips all exhibited nuanced feelings. The flowing costumes fully demonstrated the female grace. The male dances, on the other hand, were strong, handsome, and easygoing. Especially during group dances, the beauty of the synchronicity really could not have been achieved with regular skills.
“Must see Shen Yun once during the lifetime,” Ms. Arima said.
“Makes You Want to Be a Good Person”
Richard Yan, an engineer of Chinese descent, saw Shen Yun in Atlanta on December 23.
“The performance can inspire people. Everyone could feel the power that makes you want to be a good person,” Mr. Yan said.
He also spoke about the vocal performances. “The messages delivered by those lyrics were very good. Even though I can only remember that kind of feeling, this makes me feel very inspired. Very uplifting,” he said.
“The beauty of the performance makes you feel hope,” he said.
For more information about performance times, locations, and tickets, please visit www.shenyun.com.
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