Former Bank President: Shen Yun ‘Wonderful’

COSTA MESA, Calif—A standing ovation thundered from the full house audience at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in appreciation of Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company on this glorious Mother’s Day, May 8.

Among those celebrating this holiday with Shen Yun were Jack Campion, a retired bank president, and his wife, Susan, a school teacher.

Mr. Campion offered his impressions of the show, saying, “Wonderful. It was very good. The dancing, overall, the color—it was very nice. … I enjoy China, you know, quite a bit. I went through martial arts. I know a little bit of Chinese, so I have an interest in Chinese. It’s beautiful, like when we went and saw the terra cotta warriors when they were here—that was just amazing."

Eager to learn more about the three Shen Yun touring companies that travel the world reviving the authentic 5,000-year-old Chinese culture, lost during 60-plus years of communist rule, the Campions had researched Shen Yun on the web.

“My wife and I sat down. We looked at all the individuals, their stories, their background and it was very interesting. The idea of going back to the traditional dance, and that was very interesting after the Cultural Revolution—how everything kind of changed in the arts.”

Mr. Campion continued, “But I’m just extremely impressed with the art, the artistry. It’s a wonderful culture—it’s wonderful.”

Describing the characteristics of the traditional Chinese dance in the performance, Mr. Campion noted, “The women are women, and the men are masculine, or very strong. … I just love the precise nature of the way they move, it’s outstanding. It’s so wonderful.”

Remarking on the Shen Yun New York Company Orchestra, comprised of Western and Eastern instruments, Mr. Campion said, ”The music is excellent and I know that’s their own musicians. It was very good.”

Mrs. Campion added, “I enjoyed it tremendously. It’s wonderful and colorful. I love the story. I’m glad to have the narration to kind of keep me informed. … the gracefulness and the color—it’s just amazing.”

Mr. Campion offered a final observation of the performance and sentiments for China’s future: "The colors were beautiful; you see all this wonderful color. Now I don’t know if that was what happened after the Cultural Revolution or before. You know, because the before may have been wonderful and open and colorful. And hopefully it’ll work back to that.”

Reporting by Lu Rusong and Masha Savitz.

New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org