Where do Shen Yun’s dance stories come from?

The short dance stories are like little excerpts from Chinese history. They may be about the Yellow Emperor of antiquity, the Monkey King, a modern-day tale, heroes, deities, or colorful characters who have appeared throughout the millennia of dynasties.

A unique feature of Chinese civilization is that its history has been recorded and passed down uninterrupted for thousands of years, sometimes in vivid detail. This provides Shen Yun with abundant source material, making it possible to revive this ancient culture on the twenty-first century stage.

In under seven minutes each, these mini dramas recount timeless legends, bygone heroes, literary classics, and celestial paradises. Every dance embodies and celebrates the virtues that were at the heart of Chinese civilization for thousands of years: loyalty, faith, compassion, and courage.