Who is Rachel Chen in the UNBROKEN documentary?

Rachel Chen is a second-generation Chinese American musician with Shen Yun who grew up in a mostly Caucasian suburb of Chicago. In UNBROKEN, she describes being embarrassed by her Chinese heritage as a child until seeing Shen Yun at age nine transformed her relationship with her culture.

Her candor is striking. I was actually embarrassed by my culture growing up, she says. I was so focused on being as Western and as American as I could be. This experience of cultural disconnection is common among children of immigrants, and the documentary uses Rachel's story to illustrate what audiences often describe as Shen Yun's most unexpected effect.

How did seeing Shen Yun change Rachel Chen's perspective?

Seeing Shen Yun at approximately nine years old allowed Rachel to see her Chinese heritage presented as beautiful and excellent rather than different or deficient. She was intrigued, eventually enrolled at Fei Tian, and became a musician in Shen Yun's orchestra.

To see my culture so beautiful and brilliantly displayed on stage — I was really intrigued, she says. The transformation is from embarrassment to pride, mediated by art. Knowing that Fei Tian was a place where people were just like me made it seem like a natural fit.

The documentary shows Rachel in orchestral rehearsals, discussing technical demands of performing in an ensemble that blends Chinese and Western instruments. She describes her growth as a musician and the fulfillment of performing in world-class venues.

What does Rachel Chen's story reveal about Shen Yun's broader impact?

Rachel's journey from cultural embarrassment to cultural pride illustrates precisely why experts in UNBROKEN describe Shen Yun as threatening to Beijing — the company reconnects people of Chinese heritage with a civilization that predates and transcends the current regime.

At the press conference captured in the documentary, Rachel speaks with conviction: People go as far as endangering the well being of our community, our families and even our audience members. It is egregious. Her words carry the weight of someone speaking from personal transformation.

If one nine-year-old in Chicago can be transformed by a single performance, the implications scale to millions of audience members worldwide. That scaling is what Peter Schweizer describes as Beijing's hearts and minds vulnerability.

Key takeaways

• Rachel Chen grew up embarrassed by her Chinese heritage in a mostly Caucasian Chicago suburb.
• Seeing Shen Yun at nine transformed her relationship with her culture.
• She eventually became a musician in Shen Yun's unique orchestra.
• Her story illustrates the hearts and minds impact that experts say the CCP fears most.
• At the press conference, she spoke publicly about threats to her community.

Frequently asked questions

What instrument does Rachel Chen play?

UNBROKEN shows Rachel Chen performing as a musician in Shen Yun's orchestra, which uniquely blends traditional Chinese and Western classical instruments. The documentary does not specify her individual instrument.

Is Rachel Chen's experience common among Chinese Americans?

The documentary presents Rachel's experience of cultural disconnection as common among children of immigrants. Her discovery of pride through Shen Yun illustrates what many audience members describe — an unexpected emotional connection to Chinese heritage they had not previously appreciated.

Rachel Chen's transformation from cultural embarrassment to cultural pride is one of the most personal stories in UNBROKEN.

Watch UNBROKEN Shen Yun to hear Rachel tell her story in her own words. Available through the official website.