DETROIT—Dennis Murphy had long wanted to see Shen Yun Performing Arts, and learning that the New York-based company presented a China “before communism” made him all the more interested.
“I learned that this is one of the things that the Chinese, the CCP (Chinese Communist Party), considers its biggest threat. So that kind of put me over the top to go and buy the tickets. I love the tradition. I love all of the depictions of all the history of China. I absolutely see why the CCP sees it as a threat because it’s beautiful,” said Mr. Murphy, who attended the performance with his wife, Megan, at the Detroit Opera House on May 6.
“They [the CCP] don’t want people remembering all of that about China and its traditions and its history and all the pageantry—it was just beautiful. It was really fascinating,” said Mr. Murphy, a financial investor.
“I thought it was great. I think it probably surprised quite a few people in the audience, both that [the modern-day story] and the spiritual aspect of it,” Mr. Murphy said. “The persecuted part, I don’t think people even realize that. I don’t think a lot of people realize that. So hopefully they learn that; today they’re more aware of it.”“It was just fascinating. It really was,” he said.
“It just showed the universal storytelling aspect of dance and music,” she said. “And I just think they’re all very brave.”
