[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 41 (Tuesday, March 8, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E231]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       IN RECOGNITION OF SHEN YUN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 8, 2022

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay 
tribute to Shen Yun, and welcome it back to Lincoln Center for its 17th 
anniversary. Shen Yun is a classical Chinese dance and music company 
with the mission of preserving traditional Chinese culture. The name 
Shen Yun means ``the beauty of divine beings dancing.'' Shen Yun 
preserves, memorializes, and revitalizes ancient Chinese stories and 
traditions, introducing this rich culture and art form to New Yorkers 
and many other people around the world.
  In 2006, a group of Chinese artists, persecuted by the Chinese 
Communist Party for practicing Falun Dafa, founded Shen Yun to preserve 
their traditions and ancient history, which has been under threat since 
the Cultural Revolution. These artists chose to gather in New York, a 
testament to this city's status as a haven for the arts, culture, and 
freedom. Shen Yun creates a new performance each year dedicated to 
these principles.
  Shen Yun's performances draw from historical Chinese stories and 
legends such as Mulan and Journey to the West. Its dances are 
accompanied by traditional Chinese instruments such as the pipa, suona, 
and dizi.
  Three of Shen Yun's performers were recipients of the Chinese 
Ministry of Culture's ``National First-Class Performer Awards''.
  Shen Yun currently has seven troupes that travel and perform all 
around the world. The troupes perform in over 130 cities in North 
America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Latin America. In their first 
three years of touring, over 1 million people attended Shen Yun 
performances.
  I congratulate them for their unwavering devotion not only to putting 
on a fantastic show, but to preserving cultural treasures for future 
generations.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Shen Yun 
for celebrating thousands of years of Chinese culture and history 
through traditional dance, orchestration, costumes, and more.

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