Shen Yun’s Compelling Story of China's Religious Oppression of the Falun Gong

THE STATE

By Greg Garrison

Shen Yun acrobatic dance is at the Koger Center 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday

SOUTH CAROLINA---Is it entertaining to mix Chinese art with religion and politics? Yes, when there is a compelling story behind the art. Shen Yun is advertised as a cultural spectacular, a celebration of 5,000 years of Chinese dance and music. I did not tell my wife the background of the religious group that puts on the show, but we were talking about it on the way out. You cannot walk away from Shen Yun without a mixture of marvel at the high level of dance, music and cultural celebration interspersed with alarm at the treatment of religious dissidents in China. Falun Gong, or Falun Dafa as it is also called, has continued to spread within China and throughout the world. [link]