Renowned globally, Shen Yun Performing Arts is about to kick off their 2025 Northern California tour, offering over 20 spectacular performances for the audience in the San Francisco Bay Area. The first show is set to debut with grandeur on December 26 in the tech hub of San Jose.
Established nearly 19 years ago, Shen Yun has evolved from a single performance group to now encompassing eight teams. The 2024 tour concluded successfully in May this year, covering all five continents globally, including over 20 countries and 209 cities, setting a new record with 810 shows.
Su Yi, the media contact for the San Francisco Bay Area organizer, has been passionately involved with Shen Yun since witnessing their performance for the first time in 2016, eventually becoming a volunteer for the group. In a recent interview with a reporter from Epoch Times, she expressed that Shen Yun showcases an unprecedented form of stage art, describing it as a must-see performance in one’s lifetime.
Su Yi noted that the music of Shen Yun Performing Arts is distinctive, being a unique blend of Eastern and Western symphony orchestras in the world. With a foundation in Western orchestral music and incorporating ancient Chinese instruments like erhu and pipa, it harmoniously combines the essence of Eastern and Western traditional music. The melodies sound fresh and captivating, leaving the audience mesmerized.
Before attending a Shen Yun show, Su Yi had the opportunity to witness a performance by the Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra in the Bay Area in October 2016. She attended with her Western husband, who was unfamiliar with Shen Yun’s performance style at the time. Nevertheless, the music during the show touched their hearts deeply. Su Yi recalled how the music reminded her of her homeland, evoking emotions she couldn’t put into words, leading her to tears. Her husband was also moved to tears, deeply feeling the enchantment and awe brought by Shen Yun’s music.
Since 2016, Su Yi has made it a tradition to watch Shen Yun performances annually, attending up to three shows each year. Over time, through multiple viewings, she gradually understood the relationship between art, faith, and morality, hoping to introduce her two biracial children to classical Chinese culture. According to her, Shen Yun’s performance serves as an excellent educational tool to impart these values through art.
She mentioned a study on the “Mozart Effect” in the magazine “Nature,” which aligns with the ancient Chinese music theory of DeYinYa, suggesting that classical music can cleanse the soul and improve mental and physical health. Shen Yun’s pure and exquisite music embodies this positive energy, offering hope and enlightenment to the audience. Many viewers radiate a bright glow after watching, showcasing the profound impact of Shen Yun’s performance, making it a worthwhile experience to be personally lived.
Sharing anecdotes, Su Yi recounted an encounter with a club manager in Marin County who was deeply moved after watching Shen Yun. Following her recommendation, he made numerous calls to club members, organizing a group of 18 people to purchase tickets to watch Shen Yun and arranging for a bus from Novato in Marin County to San Francisco.
She also mentioned meeting a stylishly dressed Chinese mother with her teenage daughter at a community event booth in September, where they promptly bought two expensive tickets to the San Francisco show. The mother expressed her profound admiration for Shen Yun, mentioning that although her daughter was born in China, she had limited knowledge of traditional Chinese culture, which she believed Shen Yun beautifully showcased, highlighting values that are not as prevalent in contemporary China.
There is a particular interest among the Indian community towards Shen Yun performances. Su Yi shared an encounter with an Indian couple with two daughters who, upon seeing the Shen Yun booth, eagerly approached her for more details. She recalled, “They listened intently to me as long as I talked.” When she showed the couple the heavenly scenes in the Shen Yun performance booklet, the husband had his eyes wide open in amazement. The couple resonated deeply with the traditional Chinese culture that Shen Yun presented, especially the ideals of reverence for the divine and belief in karma. They emphasized the importance of letting their children experience these precious life lessons through Shen Yun’s performance, ultimately buying four high-priced tickets.
While distributing Shen Yun flyers in residential areas, Su Yi met a Caucasian lady in her late sixties who enthusiastically shared her love for Shen Yun, having already attended four shows in the East Coast. The lady joyously expressed, “Seeing Shen Yun makes me happy, I just don’t know why, but I really like it.” She mentioned her intention to recommend Shen Yun to friends and relatives in the Midwest. Su Yi remembered the warmth and nostalgia in the lady’s eyes, indicating a desire to discuss feelings further, but the busy schedule at the time prevented a deeper conversation, leaving her somewhat regretful.
Further interactions with individuals included a hotel owner ecstatic after seeing Shen Yun posters, exclaiming about the show’s excellence and quick ticket sales, immediately arranging for staff to inquire and book tickets. One lady, upon seeing a Shen Yun poster while a volunteer was posting it, emotionally shared that attending Shen Yun was the last activity her entire family participated in together. Her mother had long awaited the opportunity to see Shen Yun, which brought her immense joy. Despite the mother’s passing shortly after due to illness, the family harbored no regrets, as she had experienced the beautiful performance before her passing. Whenever she sees a Shen Yun poster now, it evokes memories of her mother, filling her heart with warmth.
Starting from December 26 in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area, Shen Yun Performing Arts will present a total of 23 shows across seven cities, including San Jose, San Francisco, Modesto, Berkeley, Folsom, Fresno, and Sacramento.
Details of the Shen Yun performances in San Jose are as follows:
– Venue: San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
255 S. Almaden Blvd., San Jose, CA 95113
– Show times:
December 26 (Thursday) 7:00 PM
December 27 (Friday) 2:00 PM
December 28 (Saturday) 2:00 PM
December 29 (Sunday) 2:00 PM
December 30 (Monday) 2:00 PM
– Phone booking:
888-633-6999 (Presenter)
877-663-7469 (Shen Yun Ticketing)
– Email:
info.sf@ticketingorder.com
– Online ticket purchase:
tickets.shenyun.com ◇