SAN FRANCISCO—Captain Maggie McDonogh, Angel Island Tiburon Ferry president and CEO, enjoyed an evening with her family seeing Shen Yun Performing Arts at the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco, Jan. 10.

“As my children said, it’s amazing,” Mrs. McDonogh said.

The Angel Island Tiburon Ferry is the last family-owned and operated ferry boat service in California and sole ferry service from Angel Island to Tiburon. Mrs. McDonogh’s ferry service also won the Marin Magazine 2013 Editor’s Choice Award as one of the Bay Area’s family friendliest attractions.

“It was fabulous. It was an introduction to a different world, different culture,” Mrs. McDonogh said.

New York-based Shen Yun combines traditional Chinese dance, music blending east and west, an animated backdrop, and brilliant costumes to revive 5,000 years of Chinese civilization.

The traditional Chinese culture had been interesting for Mrs. McDonogh’s children as well.

“The culture is phenomenal,” her daughter said. “The culture intrigues me very much. The culture intrigues me very much how they move, how they feel. It’s very interesting to me.”

Mrs. McDonogh’s daughter had noticed the unique movements and postures in the classical Chinese dance Shen Yun performed. In addition to form and technique, classical Chinese dance emphasizes the bearing, or “inner spirit,” which allows the performers to portray scenes from any period and setting.

“How they did all of that was incredible—how they moved, how intricate they were, how they—their confidence was through the roof!” Mrs. McDonogh’s daughter said. “And the clothing they had were just beautiful, I thought. Absolutely.”

Reporting by Jennifer Liang and Catherine Yang

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

The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time. We have proudly covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.