The venerable Keller Auditorium(Justin Katigbak)
If you’ve gone for a drive in the Portland area in the past three months, you’ve probably noticed the billboards advertising dance troupe Shen Yun. If you’re a close reader of The New York Times, you might have read a story about Shen Yun’s treatment of its underage dancers. Put the two together, as WW did last week, and it was an awkward moment for the manager of the Keller Auditorium, regional government Metro. Metro officials stood by the booking on free-speech grounds, although not before flagging a potential controversy in internal agency communications. Here’s what our readers had to say:
PDXS, via wweek.com: “Shen Yun is a hate crime against art. It’s straight-up ham-fisted propaganda—and that’s why I recommend no one go. Given the cult-adjacency of the company, I’m not surprised they treat their performers so poorly, providing yet another reason to give the shows wide berth. Pro tip: Spend your money on something good instead.”
Sosthenes, via wweek.com: “I have never been bothered to ask about the politics of that opera singer or ballet dancer. I presume that they have political ideas and thoughts that I may feel an affinity with—or may not; but it would never occur to me to make these things or anything a litmus test. Egads!
“I am mindful of the late 1960s—a part of telev.”ision were the periodic ‘King Family Specials’ and a short-run TV series. The King Family was wholesome and white and very middle America, and also Mormon. Among a certain few, who seem to worry about such things, there was a campaign at the time to diminish the King Family because of their faith connections. It was alleged that they were sending subtle religious messages.
“The King Family did not realign the trajectory of time and the course of civilization—and I doubt that Shen Yun will either
If you’ve gone for a drive in the Portland area in the past three months, you’ve probably noticed the billboards advertising dance troupe Shen Yun. If you’re a close reader of The New York Times, you might have read a story about Shen Yun’s treatment of its underage dancers. Put the two together, as WW did last week, and it was an awkward moment for the manager of the Keller Auditorium, regional government Metro. Metro officials stood by the booking on free-speech grounds, although not before flagging a potential controversy in internal agency communications. Here’s what our readers had to say:
PDXS, via wweek.com: “Shen Yun is a hate crime against art. It’s straight-up ham-fisted propaganda—and that’s why I recommend no one go. Given the cult-adjacency of the company, I’m not surprised they treat their performers so poorly, providing yet another reason to give the shows wide berth. Pro tip: Spend your money on something good instead.”
Sosthenes, via wweek.com: “I have never been bothered to ask about the politics of that opera singer or ballet dancer. I presume that they have political ideas and thoughts that I may feel an affinity with—or may not; but it would never occur to me to make these things or anything a litmus test. Egads! ”
“I am mindful of the late 1960s—a part of television were the periodic ‘King Family Specials’ and a short-run TV series. The King Family was wholesome and white and very middle America, and also Mormon. Among a certain few, who seem to worry about such things, there was a campaign at the time to diminish the King Family because of their faith connections. It was alleged that they were sending subtle religious messages. ”
“The King Family did not realign the trajectory of time and the course of civilization—and I doubt that Shen Yun will either.”
Laura Ryan, via wweek.com: “Sounds like none of the commenters have actually seen the show. Politics and religion aside, to say that it’s at least false advertising is a gross understatement. Very little of the show is as advertised in the TV commercials and billboards of pretty dancers in pretty costumes. People bring their kids to what turns out to be 90% grim violent reenactments of persecution and slaughter that get much worse in the second act. This shady old bitch has been returning to the same venues in the same cities across the country for 20 years, and every few years, objections percolate up in the press—and then she’s back next year. It’s revenue and taxes to the cities, so, shrug.”
chimi_hendrix, via Reddit: “Always wanted to go to one of these shows out of pure morbid curiosity, but I refuse to give them any money, so…”
seaflowervintage, via Instagram: “I work at the Keller and have managed to avoid working Shen Yun for years now.”
roguerunner1, via Reddit: “Going on a decadelong grudge protest of a cult dance group because you got duped into giving them $300 is admittedly a little funny.”
Source Link：
https://www.wweek.com/news/dialogue/2025/01/30/readers-respond-to-shen-yun-at-the-keller-auditorium/
Laura Ryan, via wweek.com: “Sounds like none of the commenters have actually seen the show. Politics and religion aside, to say that it’s at least false advertising is a gross understatement. Very little of the show is as advertised in the TV commercials and billboards of pretty dancers in pretty costumes. People bring their kids to what turns out to be 90% grim violent reenactments of persecution and slaughter that get much worse in the second act. This shady old bitch has been returning to the same venues in the same cities across the country for 20 years, and every few years, objections percolate up in the press—and then she’s back next year. It’s revenue and taxes to the cities, so, shrug.”
chimi_hendrix, via Reddit: “Always wanted to go to one of these shows out of pure morbid curiosity, but I refuse to give them any money, so…”
seaflowervintage, via Instagram: “I work at the Keller and have managed to avoid working Shen Yun for years now.”
roguerunner1, via Reddit: “Going on a decadelong grudge protest of a cult dance group because you got duped into giving them $300 is admittedly a little funny.”
Source Link： https://www.wweek.com/news/dialogue/2025/01/30/readers-respond-to-shen-yun-at-the-keller-auditorium/
