Shen Yun: fighting the Party with acrobatics

„China before Communism“ is the subtitle of the Shen Yun show spectacle, which will be performed in Berlin on March 29-31. The many posters feature a dancer in a Hanfu dress jumping into the picture, her wide sleeves stretched out like two wings. Shen Yun combines acrobatics and music with traditional Chinese elements. But the 80-member ensemble is far from being a Chinese state circus. Behind Shen Yun is Falun Gong, a spiritual movement also known as Falun Dafa, which is banned in China. Its members have banded together in exile to form a powerful voice against Beijing. The title of the event should also be understood in this context: For the creators of Shen Yun, China’s 5,000-year civilization ended when the Communists took power.