Shen Yun Performance was Disappointing

Shen Yun has great PR! I've been seeing great reviews on Shen Yun for some time and when it came to the Sacramento, California area I jumped quickly to buy some tickets. The tickets weren't cheap I spend $240 for two seats in Row N (I assume they start in Row A) smack in the center and we definitely had a good view of the performance. That I won't complain about. The Sacramento Community Center Theater holds 2,398 people and from my observation it looked like it was sold out.

The performance started timely and the initial dancers were very good. After the first dance two MC's came on stage and introduced the performances in English and Chinese. The following dancer's were very good also and they used some high tech blending of animation with the dancers to make spectacular stories. But... not far into the performance we started to get the religious message which was of their belief in "FaLun Dafa" probably better known as "FaLun Gong". I don't actually think they used the word Falun Gong. They started off talking about "Dafa" and talking about the persecution of their religion in China.

The story of FaLun Gong is very similar to the tale of  Joseph Smith and the Mormons - a cult leader whose members get ostracized, beaten and chased away to the promised land - Utah in the case of the Mormons and the USA for the leader of FaLun Gong. Both groups end up spreading worldwide with their organizations making lots of money.

They also talked about how they couldn't have their performance in mainland China because of their beliefs. Well, Falun Gong is outlawed in China. It's not a surprise that they can't show it there especially when several of the dances have scenes of "government" bad guys beating the "good" Falun Gongers. In one of the final dances there was someone holding a banner of Chinese characters that read "Falun Dafa is good". Most Americans can't read Chinese but I can read a little and I understood what the banner said. It put me off.

So my disappointment lies in the fact that I paid good money to be entertained and ended up seeing a performance that tried to make me sympathetic to their religion. It's like getting pulled into a Church and being forced to sit through Bible lectures when you really don't want to be there and have no interest in it. Don't get me wrong. People can believe what they want to. Just don't lie to me about what you're trying to do so you can force me to sit through it.

In the case of Shen Yun they should be up front that they want people to be sympathetic to their cause and they want to convert you and they also want to make money off you while you get indoctrinated with their message. If Falun Gong is as sneaky and dishonest about spreading their message in China as they are here, maybe that's why the Chinese Government doesn't like them.

So my recommendation is that if you are considering going to the Shen Yun performance be well advised that there will be attempts to convert you to their belief system and you will have paid good money to listen to their propaganda.

And by the way, contrary to their statement that you won't see a performance this good anywhere else, there are better dance troupes from mainland China that come through the US. Watch for them. They will entertain you instead of trying to convert you.

Cloud Hands Seminar with Sifu Share K. Lew

Sifu Lew Cloud Hands Qi Gong Workshop taught by Master Share K. Lew
will take place Saturday and Sunday, June 5 and June 6, 2010 in Redding, CA

The exercises that Master Lew teaches are part of the "internal system" of the martial arts, known as Nui Kung or energy cultivation. These exercises strengthen the circulation of the Chi (vital energy), which increases vitality, health, and sensory perception. All of these exercises have traditionally been kept secret. Daily practice of the exercises will give the student a tangible experience of Chi energy.
The Cloud Hands set is the beginning set of Nui Kung (internal energy cultivation) which builds a foundation for both better health and further Nui Kung. The Cloud Hands consist of five relatively non-strenuous movements along with quiet seated meditation. These Taoist exercises help the body maintain good health and increase vitality. The time required for practice will fit into anyone’s schedule.
****

The Instructor
Share K. Lew, now in his nineties, is a Taoist priest with over 70 years experience in the traditional Taoist arts. Master Lew received part of his education at Wong Lung Kwan, a Taoist monastery on the Luo Fo mountains near Canton, China.
Master Lew studied at Wong Lung Kwan monastery for 13 years. During that time he trained in the full range of Taoist healing and martial arts. At the core of his training was the secret system of cultivation known as Qigong (Chi kung). Master Lew was the first person to openly teach authentic Taoist Qigong to non-Chinese, beginning in Los Angeles in 1970. Master Lew’s monastery style, the Tao Ahn Pai (Taoist Elixir Style), dates back over 1300 years to Lu Dung Bin, who was born during the Tang Dynasty, and became one of the Eight Immortals of Taoism.


For information and reservations call John Price at (530) 524-6942 or email: 6mmrem@gmail.com

*****
Date: Saturday and Sunday, June 5 and June 6, 2010
Time: 10:00 to 4:00 pm, with lunch break from 12-2:00 pm
Location: Tobacco and Brew on Hilltop Drive in Redding

Fee: $200

Reservations: Pre-registration is recommended. A deposit of $100 will reserve your space. Class size is limited to 35 people.
• Bring a small pillow to sit on

Sifu Lew's Cloud Hand Workshop

Sifu Share K. Lew's Cloud Hand workshop had a warm reception in Redding. Even though there was only a short notice that Sifu Lew would give a workshop, the class was quickly filled. Some students came from as far as San Francisco, Red Bluff, and Weaverville to attend. Sifu Lew taught several workshops in Redding over 10 years ago when longtime students and friends, John and Janet Price hosted the seminars and introduced many of us to Sifu Lew's teachings.
Despite the outside temperature hovering at 102 degrees and the inside temperature about 90 degrees in the studio, Sifu Lew and his wife, Juanita, generously shared their knowledge with over 30 men and women who attended the workshop.
We all look forward to Sifu Lew and Juanita hopefully returning to Redding when the weather cools down and helping us refine what we have learned and teaching us more.

Top Right: Sifu Share K. Lew (center), Sifu John Price (right), Michel Czehatowski (left)

Below (left to right): Michel Czehatowski, Steve Lauderdale, Sifu Lew, Juanita Lew, John Garland.

Cloud Hands workshop filled

Sifu Lew's Cloud Hands workshop now has the maximum 25 people signed up.
If you are still interested please contact us so we can get your name and contact info for future workshops and we can put you on a waiting list in case someone cannot make it this workshop.

Sifu Lew Cloud Hands Workshop filling fast!

As of this date, we have 20 people signed up for Sifu Lew's Cloud Hands workshop. If you are interested in taking it please sign up as soon as possible. The class is limited to 25 people.
See previous posting for workshop details.

Sifu Lew Cloud Hands Qi Gong Workshop

Sifu Lew Cloud Hands Qi Gong Workshop taught by Master Share K. Lew
will take place Sunday, August 24, 2008 in Redding, CA

The exercises that Master Lew teaches are part of the "internal system" of the martial arts, known as Nui Kung or energy cultivation. These exercises strengthen the circulation of the Chi (vital energy), which increases vitality, health, and sensory perception. All of these exercises have traditionally been kept secret. Daily practice of the exercises will give the student a tangible experience of Chi energy.
The Cloud Hands set is the beginning set of Nui Kung (internal energy cultivation) which builds a foundation for both better health and further Nui Kung. The Cloud Hands consist of five relatively non-strenuous movements along with quiet seated meditation. These Taosit exercises help the body maintain good health and increase vitality. The time required for practice will fit into anyone’s schedule.
****

The Instructor
Share K. Lew, now in his nineties, is a Taoist priest with over 70 years experience in the traditional Taoist arts. Master Lew received part of his education at Wong Lung Kwan, a Taoist monastery on the Luo Fo mountains near Canton, China.
Master Lew studied at Wong Lung Kwan monastery for 13 years. During that time he trained in the full range of Taoist healing and martial arts. At the core of his training was the secret system of cultivation known as Qigong (Chi kung). Master Lew was the first person to openly teach authentic Taoist Qigong to non-Chinese, beginning in Los Angeles in 1970. Master Lew’s monastery style, the Tao Ahn Pai (Taoist Elixir Style), dates back over 1300 years to Lu Dung Bin, who was born during the Tang Dynasty, and became one of the Eight Immortals of Taoism.
For information and reservations call (530) 223-4849 or email: eetw@eastearthtrade.com
*****
Date: Sunday, August 24, 2008
Time: 10:00 to 4:00 pm, with lunch break from 12-2:00 pm
Location: Redding Ju Jitsu Academy
3092 Bechelli Lane
Redding 96002 (behind Village Cycle)
Fee: $100

Reservations: Pre-registration is recommended. A deposit of $100 will reserve your space. Class size is limited.
• Bring a small pillow to sit on
• Make checks payable to Share K. Lew.
• You can sign up in advance at:
East Earth Trade Winds
144 Hartnell Avenue, Redding (in the Raley’s shopping center)