By Jennifer Tseng
Photography by Larry Dye
Rubi Cho’s life trajectory took an irrevocable turn long before he could contemplate it. An award-winning dancer with Shen Yun Performing Arts, Cho now looks back on his journey with a sense of awe.
Back when his parents went to Japan, they thought their stay was temporary. Never would they have guessed that overnight and without warning, their status would change from Chinese students studying abroad to refugees seeking asylum.
His family practiced Falun Gong, an ancient spiritual practice in the Buddhist tradition whose followers adhere to the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. Since its introduction to the public in 1992, the meditation practice has garnered millions of practitioners worldwide.
However, in 1999, fearing Falun Gong’s extraordinary growth in popularity, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) launched a violent suppression. Soon, the peaceful practice was branded an enemy of the state, and its practitioners were thrown into prisons and forced labor camps.
“Most of my family are in China. My aunt was repeatedly persecuted for her faith. After years of imprisonment, she was released only to be arrested again a few months later,” Cho said. His mother was also imprisoned for six months after joining a peaceful appeal in Beijing.
A Higher Calling
Born into freedom in Japan, Cho saw it as his life’s mission to advocate for the voiceless in China. “Since I was young, I’ve always thought this was something I needed to do,” he said. He dedicated himself to raising awareness about the injustice—distributing fliers, marching in parades, and attending events to raise awareness.
Then Cho was introduced to Shen Yun Performing Arts, the New York-based classical Chinese dance company founded by leading artists who similarly had fled persecution by China’s communist regime. The company’s goal is to revive the glory of China’s 5,000 years of divinely inspired culture and share with its audiences the beauty of China before communism.
Shen Yun’s dancers undergo rigorous training in classical Chinese dance, an art form with a history spanning thousands of years. It is renowned for its athleticism and expressiveness.
Unbeknownst to most, the classical Chinese dance we see in China today is heavily mixed with modern and other dance styles. At Shen Yun, it is practiced in its purest form—the way it was originally passed down through the generations.
Alongside classical Chinese, folk, and ethnic dances, the two-and-a-half-hour performance includes story-based dances set in modern times. These segments bring global attention to human rights issues in contemporary China.
Cho’s good friend was awarded a place at Fei Tian Academy of the Arts, the preparatory school for Shen Yun’s performers, and suggested he try out as well.
The Brave Are Not Without Fear
Recounting his first time watching a Shen Yun performance, Cho said, “It was extremely moving.” It was as if a brand-new door had opened. “I saw how, on the dance stage, they were able to expose the persecution, clarify the truth, and tell everyone what is happening in China right now. It was just so important.”
Yet there was one problem: Cho felt no inclination to dance.
“I was very interested in the arts, but I much prefer to sit quietly with a book or listen to music.” Watching how beautifully the performers danced and flipped across the stage—the height of athleticism and flexibility—Cho said, “I just knew it would be extremely exhausting. I didn’t think I could do it.”
Still, with the support of his friends and family, he steeled his will and took a leap of faith.
“There are a lot of very kind people in this world, but life is hard. It’s difficult to always stay upright and make a morally correct decision. It’s so easy to bow in the face of reality,” he said.
“What impressed me was that these artists are not only steadfast in their beliefs, but they’re also able to harmonize with each other to strive toward a shared goal—like a family. It’s not every day you get an opportunity to meet people like these.”
After pondering long and hard, Cho told his mother of his decision to go to New York for an audition. “My mom bought me a plane ticket immediately,” he said with a laugh.
While in New York, as a part of his entrance test, a teacher asked him, “Are you afraid of pain?”
At that moment, Cho thought about the support of his family, the unparalleled opportunity the school could offer him, and his responsibility to the people of the world still waiting to hear the truth. He answered, “No, I’m not afraid.”
Two weeks later, he was accepted.
Looking back, “I definitely was afraid of the pain,” Cho said, but compared to what hung in the balance, “I knew that pain was not something I should be worried about. I could overcome it. I made up my mind—I can’t fail the people supporting me.”
The Strength to Persevere
Through hard work and determination in his dance training, Cho later became a principal dancer of Shen Yun. Yet, his journey was not without trials. Every day, Cho and his fellow dancers go through vigorous training. “Even before our practice session started, we would be sweating from nerves,” he said.
However, it was all worth it in building a rock-solid foundation “not only in terms of technical capabilities, but also in terms of mental willpower—how you’re able to persevere in difficult situations.”
While dance is undoubtedly a physically taxing profession, mental fatigue is a far more difficult hurdle to cross.
“When I was younger, I was very competitive and craved success. In my mind, I see myself accomplishing the dance moves, but physically, there was a learning curve. I was very hard on myself,” Cho reflected.
He added that during those early days, his naivety often led to tribulations because he believed that relentless pushing would yield the desired results.
“Every dancer, regardless of how passionate he may be, struggles with frustrations at one point or another. The attitude you choose to face these difficulties and whether or not you’re able to stay positive depends solely on you.”
“There are a lot of very successful people who have had very difficult backstories,” Cho said. “I think, no matter what it is you’re trying to accomplish, there will always be difficulties along the way. For these people, it is their steadfast belief and faith that kept them going. And through trials, they eventually discovered who they are, and learned to accept and enjoy the journey that brought them there.”
Finding a Happy Medium
From his years of experience, Cho learned that as a well-rounded artist, you can’t limit yourself to just the physical movements of a dance. It is imperative to be familiar with all the ins and outs of the performance.
“There is a saying: Music is the soul of dance. So, when we perform, not only do we need to practice the dance components, but we also have to work with the orchestra conductor to make sure every detail of the piece is [moving the story forward],” Cho said.
“Shen Yun’s music is all original. The choreographers and composers work very hard together before finalizing the details of the music. These insights are incredibly helpful in creating a vivid picture in your mind. Then, you have to feel the music, express the emotions behind the music, and deliver the meaning with your movements.”
Through this process, Cho learned the importance of taking a step back to look at the whole picture. Sometimes, sacrifices and letting go of self are necessary.
“It’s really important for me to constantly know what I want and how I can best deliver the message I want to deliver,” Cho explained. “Sometimes I need to remove the parts I really like to achieve the best result as a whole. I focus on what can best move the audience rather than what I, personally, want to see.”
Looking back, Cho is thankful for the strength his belief has given him and the roots he gained in dance, allowing him to be grounded in this path.
In his journey to become a successful artist, Cho never forgot the higher purpose that first brought him here: “I want to use my abilities to help this society and help the people around me. Shen Yun is delivering the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance to the audience. I think these are the world’s universal and most important values.”
