Shen Yun Voices

Today we have the pleasure of chatting with Professor Zhang Tianliang of Fei Tian College in New York. He’s a prolific author, lecturer, and television commentator who mixes a keen eye for world politics with in-depth knowledge of traditional Chinese culture. He talks about his personal journey from China, heartrending moments, and his hope for China’s future.

Hosted by Leeshai Lemish, Shen Yun MC.

This conversation has been edited for brevity.

Links:

Prof. Zhang’s book: The Essence of Chinese Civilization

Life at Fei Tian College, Where Shen Yun’s Future Stars Train

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:50 Path to Fei Tian

2:45 Back in Beijing

4:50 His experience under persecution

6:00 Why he started practicing Falun Gong

9:00 Going to Zhongnanhai April 25th

14:40 CCP propaganda blitz

19:00 Family jailed

21:50 Saying goodbye

24:00 Final talk between father and daughter

28:00 Why the persecution?

33:10 Deciding to become a teacher

35:00 What is Fei Tian?

38:11 The highest compliment

39:45 Biggest challenge

41:00 Biggest dream

Top Moments of Shen Yun Voices: First 10 Episodes 

Hosted by Leeshai Lemish, Shen Yun MC. 

Timestamps:

00:00 Alison Chen, former dancer and Vice Chair of Dance, Fei Tian College

00:40 Dr. Damon Noto, physiatrist 

1:40 Sam Pu, Shen Yun dancer

2:44 Gabriela Gonzalez-Briceno, Shen Yun bassoonist 

3:44 Levi Browde, Executive Director of Falun Dafa Information Center

4:19 Piotr Huang, Shen Yun principal dancer

4:46 Mingye Liu, former dancer

Full Episode Links: 

Alison Chen, former dancer and Vice Chair of Fei Tian College

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWHDr8wc0Uw&t=1208s

Dr. Damon Noto, physiatrist 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojPeL7ydIwI

Sam Pu, Shen Yun dancer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r77SCGdOmJg&t=1146s

Gabriela Gonzalez-Briceno, Shen Yun bassoonist 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRhdmdICWr0

Levi Browde, Executive Director of Falun Dafa Information Center

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oS3RS4vJguI&t=16s

Piotr Huang, Shen Yun principal dancer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vrb82TNNVs4&t=167s

Mingye Liu, former dancer 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFwMSFHuW_4

Our guest in this episode is none other than Shen Yun Principal Dancer Piotr Huang. On stage, Piotr is one of Shen Yun’s brightest stars. In this short interview before tour, we talk about his epic fails, his discipline, unspoken rules at home, and when he feels the most pressure. I’m Leeshai Lemish, and this is Shen Yun Voices.

Hosted by Leeshai Lemish, Shen Yun MC.

This conversation has been edited for brevity.

Born in Warsaw, Poland, Piotr Huang won first place in New Tang Dynasty Television’s 2014 International Classical Chinese Dance Competition. He studied at the New York-based Fei Tian Academy of the Arts and earned his bachelor’s degree, graduating summa cum laude, from Fei Tian College, where he also earned his Master of Fine Arts in Classical Chinese Dance. Some of his starring roles include Monkey King, Unprecedented Crime, and Red Cliff.  

Links:

Piotr Huang’s Shen Yun bio: https://www.shenyunperformingarts.org/artists/view/article/e/hBFlGVpHELU/.html

Artist Spotlight interview

https://www.shenyunperformingarts.org/news/view/article/e/B6dIptj5Lmc/artist-spotlight-piotr-huang.html

Stars of Shen Yun video on Shen Yun Creations:

https://www.shenyuncreations.com/video/_video_1d1ec9485f574393b07ee55b2e850eaf/She-Yun-Stars-Piotr-Huang?pid=p_g3E359JrRtC1&view= 

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro 

00:15 Epic fails

02:24 Biggest challenge

03:10 Talking about dance with wife

03:58 Discipline

05:05 Hardest dance

06:58 Your mission

8:20 Different reactions worldwide

11:20 Biggest pressure ever

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.

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 

Timestamps:

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

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.

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.

Hosted by Leeshai Lemish, Shen Yun MC.

This conversation has been edited for brevity.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Intro

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


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.

Hosted by Leeshai Lemish, Shen Yun MC.

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.

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.

Hosted by Leeshai Lemish, Shen Yun MC.

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.

Hosted by Leeshai Lemish, Shen Yun MC.