Today we’re chatting with Shen Yun Orchestra musicians Gabriela and Gustavo Briceno, a couple from Venezuela. Gabby is an award-winning bassoonist, Gustavo a violinist; they talk about their unexpected journey together and their take about being part of Shen Yun Performing Arts. 00:44 Leaving Venezuela for NY 04:13 Joining Shen Yun 07:40 Auditions 10:43 Culture shock 12:10 Mental strength 13:23 Gustavo’s change 16:00 Gabriela’s change 20:47 Arguments  22:49 Company culture different orchestras 26:01 The process of music making 32:36 Sharing notes with other musicians 34:37 Is it a cult? 42:11 Long-distance relationship Hosted by Leeshai Lemish, Shen Yun MC. This conversation has been edited for brevity. Links: Special long-distance relationship on tour: https://www.shenyunperformingarts.org/blog/view/article/e/q7ccljjAlcg/on-tour-daily-diary#Jan-14 Gabriela Gonzalez-Briceno bio: https://www.shenyunperformingarts.org/artists/view/article/e/2XmDkyocSVE/bassoon-gabriela-gonzalez-briceno.html Gabriela’s Instagram day in a life: https://www.instagram.com/shenyunperformingarts/reel/CpxaM3xNHEh/ Erhu vs. violin with Gustavo: https://www.shenyunperformingarts.org/videos/latest-videos/play/-tRTkhoMrrU/erhu-versus-violin.html

Today we’re speaking with Dr. Yang Jingduan, CEO of Northern Medical Center. He’s worked with Shen Yun dancers and musicians for almost twenty years. We talk about the medical care Shen Yun dancers need and get, and the role of meditation in an artist’s life. Hosted by Leeshai Lemish, Shen Yun MC. This conversation has been edited for brevity. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 00:55 Treating Shen Yun performers 2:00 Northern Medical Center purpose 2:27 Familiar tactic 6:03 Disrespectful 7:00 People in charge 9:36 Dancers’ eating habits 11:07 Challenges after leaving the company 12:17 How to have a healthy perspective 15:43 Stress 17:13 Being present 20:00 Shen Yun from the perspective of Chinese medicine 24:15 Classical music and empathy

Our guest today is Dr. Damon Noto. He’s an award-winning physician who treats a range of athletes—football players, figure skaters, and… Shen Yun dancers. What injuries do these dancers get? What medical treatment do they receive, and how does it compare to professional sports? We talk about that, and more on Shen Yun Voices. 01:45 On-time award 2:11 Working with Shen Yun dancers 4:22 Types of Shen Yun dancer injuries 8:11 Shen Yun’s approach to medical care 12:07 Advice to parents 13:02 Reaction to critique in media 17:47 Interaction with Shen Yun performers 18:51 What performers can do to prepare for a long career 20:02 Differences between performers and athletes 22:08 Fatigue or actual injury? 23:41 Entering sports medicine Hosted by Leeshai Lemish, Shen Yun MC. This conversation has been edited for brevity. Dr. Damon J. Noto, MD bio: https://www.spineandjointcenter.com/staff/ Shen Yun dancer Sam Pu talking about his Achilles rupture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r77SCGdOmJg&t=136s

Today our guest is Mingye Liu, a former Shen Yun performer, in fact, one of the first Shen Yun dancers. We reminisce about the company’s early days, get his thoughts on the recent media attacks, and talk about the most difficult role he ever had on stage. Also on this episode, how dancers learn tumbling techniques and overcome fear, family in China, and a ridiculous trip to Moldova. 0:40 Reaction to recent media coverage 3:40 Becoming a Shen Yun dancer 5:28 Martial arts transition 7:13 Relationship with dancer teachers 9:47 Letting go of ego 10:13 Shen Yun’s first year 12:10 Company changed? 14:17 Injuries and medical care 15:43 Management 18:00 Tumbling 21:06 Favorite Shen Yun moment 22:23 Favorite and least favorite roles 23:50 Homeless relatives in China 27:29 Performing in Taiwan 29:18 Hong Kong cancellation 30:41 Becoming an instructor 33:08 Takeaways from time in Shen Yun 35:07 Son’s future Hosted by Leeshai Lemish, Shen Yun MC. This episode has been edited for brevity. Mingye Liu’s blog: https://www.shenyuncommunity.org/post/memories-that-continue-to-inspire-me On martial arts and Chinese dance: https://www.shenyuncommunity.org/post/5000-year-old-siblings-chinese-dance-kung-fu

In this episode, veteran Shen Yun dancer William Li reacts to recent articles criticizing Shen Yun. He talks about the company’s policies regarding injuries, the potential reason for the hit pieces, and his experience in over a decade with the company. Hosted by Shen Yun MC Leeshai Lemish. This interview has been edited for brevity. William Li bio https://www.shenyunperformingarts.org/artists/view/article/e/h5OVltI6GzE/william-li.html Behind the Recent Media Misrepresentations of Shen Yun https://www.shenyunperformingarts.org/news/view/article/e/ZLgyUloHLE8/behind-the-recent-media-misrepresentations-of-shen-yun.html Shen Yun fact sheet https://www.shenyunperformingarts.org/faq/article/e/grSTSeIeJn8/shen-yun-factsheet.html

Today we’re sitting down with Levi Browde, Executive Director of the Falun Dafa Information Center. Levi talks about how the Chinese Communist Party has weaponize social media and the Western press to attack Shen Yun, and how he discovered what the CCP is so afraid of. In this packed episode, we talk about secret agents, bomb threats, and manipulation of our free press, as well as behind the scenes of big news stories, and a few very touching moments. 1:35 CCP's new efforts to target Falun Gong and Shen Yun globally 4:55 What should we be ready for? 5:30 What is the Falun Dafa Information Center? 10:45 The media went silent 19:00 Investigation 22:58 CCP's tactics, secret agents 28:50 CCP impersonating performers on X 29:37 How their propaganda logic works 39:18 Keeping up the fight after 25 years 44:12 "What you do matters” 52:10 Levi's sons' joining Shen Yun 53:30 Bomb threats against the company 1:01:20 Seeing sons perform for the first time 1:04:10 The Cultural Revolution 1:10:00 Being labeled a “cult" 1:16:55 What the CCP is afraid of 1:19:50 Americans need to be more vigilant 1:26:07 CCP is using us as a case study 1:27:44 Hope Hosted by Leeshai Lemish, Shen Yun MC. New Report: CCP Leaks Reveal Worldwide Disinformation Campaign to “Eliminate” Falun Gong and Shen Yun: https://faluninfo.net/new-report-ccp-leaks-reveal-new-comprehensive-disinformation-campaign-targeting-falun-gong-and-shen-yun-performing-arts/ The New York Times’ Falun Gong Distortion: https://faluninfo.net/new-york-times-falun-gong-distortion/ Beijing’s Global Drive to Stop Shen Yun: https://library.faluninfo.net/diplomatic-disruptions-and-disinformation-beijings-global-drive-to-stop-shen-yun/ Evidence of cases of the CCP’s sabotage attempts against Shen Yun: https://leeshailemish.com/on-shen-yun/whos-afraid-of-shen-yun/ Shen Yun Community website: https://www.shenyuncommunity.org/

In this episode, we’re talking with Sophia Sun, a successful businesswoman from Canada, and mother of two dancers now performing with Shen Yun. We talked her about her relationship with her kids, and found a few surprises along the way. 0:27 Sophia’s life in China 1:32 Navigating cultural identity with her kids 4:27 Mother-child dynamics: hanging out with the kids 6:59 Having the kids away at boarding school 10:44 Unexpected moments 11:55 Sophia’s rigorous diving training as a child 14:36 Challenges on the journey 16:39 Husband’s reaction to kids leaving home 19:13 Seeing the kids on stage for the first time 21:48 Friends’ reactions to the kids’ dancing careers 24:01 Attending her daughter’s graduation ceremony Hosted by Leeshai Lemish, Shen Yun MC. This interview has been edited for brevity. Sunni Zhou at the Ninth NTD International Classical Chinese Dance Competition https://www.shenyuncreations.com/video/_video_147ee6c827664fe7952de60909d91eb7/NTD-9th-International-Classical-Chinese-Dance-Competition-Adult-Female-Division-Sunni-Zhou Ryan Zhou at the Tenth NTD International Classical Chinese Dance Competition https://www.shenyuncreations.com/video/_video_8892763a12504b24951cc1ad2ad13661/The-Tenth-NTD-International-Classical-Chinese-Dance-Competition-Junior-Male-Division-Ryan-Zhou Shen Yun Community website: https://www.shenyuncommunity.org/

In this episode, we talk to the bubbly Alison Chen. Alison is a former Shen Yun dancer who toured with the company for several years. She studied classical Chinese dance at Fei Tian College in New York and won multiple prizes at the NTD International Classical Chinese Competition, including gold in 2010. She is now a choreographer, dance teacher, and a sincere, humble, and fun person to talk to. 02:03 Alison’s childhood dream 04:01 Why classical Chinese dance? 06:26 Moving across the country 09:03 Daily schedule in Shen Yun 10:25 Teacher-student dynamics 11:22 The “fish light” 13:00 Cultural exchange with the local community 14:53 Balancing confidence and humility 18:20 Most memorable show 20:07 Unique aspects about Shen Yun 24:27 What Alison misses about Shen Yun 29:02 What the future holds Hosted by Leeshai Lemish, Shen Yun MC. This interview has been edited for brevity. New to Shen Yun? https://www.shenyunperformingarts.org/what-is-shen-yun About classical Chinese dance: https://www.shenyunperformingarts.org/classical-chinese-dance Shen Yun Community website: https://www.shenyuncommunity.org/

In this episode, we have a conversation with longtime Shen Yun dancer Sam Pu. Sam is also famous for his role in the dancer trio 3 Musketeers and his video shorts like Hotel 33. Here he talks about his journey to becoming a professional dancer, overcoming an injury that put his career on hold, gaining a new perspective, and what he’s looking forward to. (0:21) How Sam started dancing (02:04) Trepidations about leaving home (03:35) Starting a YouTube channel  (06:44) The different roles Sam has portrayed on stage (12:59) How the “magic” happens on stage (15:41) Sam’s best moments with Shen Yun (16:27) Snapping his Achilles tendon (22:41) What makes the artists at Shen Yun different (26:43) What the future holds Hosted by Leeshai Lemish, Shen Yun MC. This interview has been edited for brevity. 3 Musketeers: https://www.youtube.com/@3MusketeersUSA About Shen Yun Performing Arts: https://www.shenyun.org/what-is-shen-yun Shen Yun Community website: https://www.shenyuncommunity.org/