Episodes
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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
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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.
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Missing episodes?
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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
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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. -
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.
Hosted by Leeshai Lemish, Shen Yun MC. -
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.
Hosted by Leeshai Lemish, Shen Yun MC. -
In this episode, we chat with Kay Rubacek, an award-winning producer and human rights advocate. Kay's children, Lee and Grace Rubacek, now tour with Shen Yun. We talk about how her Australian children got into classical Chinese dance and the challenges she's faced as a mother supporting her children on their unique journey.
Hosted by Leeshai Lemish, Shen Yun MC.
