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The student news site of Amador Valley High School

AmadorValleyToday

The student news site of Amador Valley High School

AmadorValleyToday

The student news site of Amador Valley High School

AmadorValleyToday

Tradition and Controversy: The Shen Yun Ballet

Shen Yun has a rich, yet controversial history behind the cultural music and vibrant scenes of dancing.
Lauren Tran
Shen Yun has a rich, yet controversial history behind the cultural music and vibrant scenes of dancing.

Ever since 2006, the Shen Yun Ballet has been preaching their traditional Chinese culture through classical and folk Chinese dance. The title’s translated meaning, “The beauty of heavenly beings dancing”. This pairs with their goal of painting a lively depiction of divine beings through dance and music.

About the Shen Yun Ballet tradition

Traditional Chinese culture was almost forgotten due to the Chinese Communist Party’s campaigns 5,000 years ago. In order to keep the memory alive, the Shen Yun Ballet hopes to honor and revive that culture. 

Shen Yun’s artists follow Falun Dafa, and they meditate and keep themselves spiritually disciplined through this religious practice. This is why they claim that their performances appear to have a special aspect to it. 

The ballet serves to entertain while educating spectators about their traditional culture. It has been widely advertised around the world, impacting millions of audience members on a global scale. Shen Yun has toured over 100 cities and received several commendations for their performances.

Shen Yun Controversy

However, Shen Yun is banned in China because it is considered an “anti-society cult.” The creators of Shen Yun, Falun Gong and other artists, avoided reprimands in China and continue to have their work spread around the world. 

Though these assertions were stated by the Chinese government, they are somewhat accurate, according to some who have seen the show. Shen Yun performances are described to be incredibly intense and animated. Their scenes portray passionate ideas that emphasize Falun Gong’s ideals.

Despite the controversy, the tradition of Shen Yun continues to display their history, connecting people from around the globe through their work. 

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    ElaineFeb 22, 2024 at 8:39 pm

    Don’t waste your money. I was very disappointed with seating and performances. Large screen behind dancers made it t difficult to see the dancers.

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