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