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Oceans Apart,
Bound by Courage
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Shen Yun artists’ true stories give family a voice
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You’ve seen our performances, with their stirring tales of perseverance in the face of persecution. But did you know that for many of our artists these stories are all too real?
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At least 92 Shen Yun performers and their families have been directly impacted by the persecution of Falun Gong in China. Mothers and fathers, aunts and uncles have been imprisoned, sent to labor camps, tortured, and even killed. The artists themselves have been threatened, barred from school, jailed, and lost loved ones.
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The story of Falun Gong and its persecution in China is intertwined with the origins of Shen Yun. It is dear to our hearts, a big part of what drives us to do what we do, and important for the world to know about.
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Shen Yun artists and performers-in-training share their stories of resisting the persecution. Watch the Full Video |
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Help get the word out so more people can hear this story.
Please share or like the video below and follow us on social media. |
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As the persecution continues in China today, these artists take the stage night after night and tell this story. It is perhaps only a small part of a Shen Yun performance, only two of roughly twenty different dance and music numbers, each depicting a part of Chinese civilization in a different way.
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But for the performers, and for many audience members, it is often the most memorable. It is not only a story of tragedy, but also of courage, faith, and hope.
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And the story continues to unfold—in China, and on stages around the world. |
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Discover the Heart of
Shen Yun |
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Our artists face incredible challenges, so what drives them to continue sharing a message of hope?
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“They savagely beat up my brother, tied his legs together, his arms behind his back, and taped up his mouth. They then folded him over and stuffed him under a low bed and stomped on it. He felt like his back was broken and was in so much pain he couldn’t breathe. He was nearly tortured to death.”
Ying Chen, conductor
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“My father died as a result of torture in custody. My mother has spent over a decade in prison or forced labor camps and remains imprisoned to this day.”
Steven Wang, dance instructor and former principal dancer
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“Newspapers and TV stations across the nation began slandering us, so I made homemade flyers to hand out. Police ransacked my home and for three years I had to search for shelter wherever I could find it. It wasn’t until I came to the U.S. that I regained my freedom.”
Chunlin Gu, oboist
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“After their wedding, my parents were arrested for trying to expose the persecution. Sadly, it was likely someone close to them who reported them to the police.”
Tommy Han, dancer
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“My family was torn apart when the persecution began. I was only eight. Both my parents were arrested for their faith—my mother many times, and my father was forced into hiding. Eventually, they were unlawfully
jailed simply because of their belief.”
Jiheng Zhao, dancer
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“My grandfather started practicing Falun Gong in 1999, just as the persecution was starting. Because he wouldn’t renounce his faith, he was jailed and only released when on the brink of death. He passed away when I was one.”
Ethan Guo, principal dancer
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“When I was seven years old, my mother went out and didn’t come back. After waiting for hours, my father and I went to look for her. Police stopped us and said my mom had been arrested for practicing Falun Gong. To protest the unjust detention, my mom went on a hunger strike for over 20 days and was eventually released.”
Tiange Cao, student pipa player
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“My mother was repeatedly sent to labor camps—even while pregnant with me. She later went into hiding to avoid being arrested, but was later imprisoned again when I was just 18 months old. That early separation left my family with deep emotional scars.”
Kasey Zhou, student violist
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