KANSAS CITY, Mo.—Retired Lieutenant Colonel Guy Workman and his wife Kirsten had been looking forward to attending Shen Yun Performing Arts long before the performing arts company arrived in Kansas City.

“I loved it! I had read a lot about it before we came because I was just really looking forward to it,” Mrs. Workman said. “It’s beautiful and it tells a really poignant story. I’m glad to be a part of it.”

“You can tell the integrity of the performers. You can tell how much they put into it. That kind of work ethic and value transcend so much,” he said. “[It’s] nice to see—in the modern society where we’re bogged down by meaningless politics—real struggles going on but there is also real hope going on.”

However, after the communist party’s violent takeover in 1949, China’s traditional culture went through decades of systematic destruction.

This message came through loud and clear for Mr. Workman. “I really enjoy the emotion behind the storytelling. It’s really easy to keep up with the message and just how important it is,” he said.

“Don’t lose your culture, don’t lose your hope! Always keep that a part of your heart.”

Referring to the persecution Shen Yun faced at the hands of the communist party, Mr. Workman said “[there are] definitely people out there suffering but I think hope [comes] from positive storytelling, hanging on to the culture, and not losing the traditional values.”

“It’s like the Odyssey,” Mr. Workman reflected, “Odysseus never lost his true self even through all the struggles. He finally made it at [the journey’s end.]”