Shen Yun

Shen Yun is a U.S.-based nonprofit touring enterprise that stages evenings of classical Chinese dance with live-orchestrated symphonic accompaniment and short theatrical tableaux. Now appearing at NJPAC, with a footprint on New York stages including the New York City Ballet, its program draws on episodes from China’s cultural past alongside more contemporary themes. The company operates under the auspices of Falun Gong, a fact that shapes both its institutional identity and some narrative choices. In New York, it functions as a recurring annual import, and as a case study in how diaspora arts organizations frame cultural heritage for large venues.