SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Former DOJ Prosecutor: Shen Yun Uses Art to Rekindle Historical Memory

Jan 17, 2026

1/17/2026Updated: 1/17/2026

WASHINGTON—“It was my first time seeing such an enormously talented and truly graceful group of artists. I loved it,” said veteran attorney Mr. James Trusty after attending a performance by Shen Yun. He praised the production for its powerful artistry and its ability to revive historical awareness through culture. “I was very honored to see it,” he added.

On the evening of Jan. 16, Mr. Trusty attended the seventh performance of the Shen Yun World Company’s current season at the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Trusty is currently a partner at a law firm. Prior to this, he served as a senior prosecutor at the U.S. Department of Justice, including as chief of the Organized Crime and Gang Section, and received multiple awards for outstanding service. He has also represented President Donald Trump in several legal cases.

Shen Yun presents “China before communism,” and Mr. Trusty said the message conveyed through the performance is especially timely. “The message about modern-day ethics and Communist China is extremely important,” he said, adding that it is “more important than ever” for American society today, at a time when some people are fine with accepting public officials who openly promote communist ideas.

He observed that many people today lack a basic understanding of history.

“I’ve lived long enough to know what happened in China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Cuba, and Venezuela,” Mr. Trusty said. “There are just a lot of people who have no sense of history. If the arts can bring that back even a little—helping people realize how abusive the communist state is—it’s a great thing.”

Shen Yun’s mission is to revive China’s 5,000 years of traditional culture through classical Chinese dance—traditions and historical heritage that have been nearly destroyed under the Chinese Communist Party’s rule.

This theme truly struck a chord with Mr. Trusty. “All oppressive governments try to erase history and rewrite it in horrific ways,” he remarked. “So to see a celebration—and really a form of defiance—against the idea of the Communist Party replacing God and oppressing spirituality is a great undertaking.”

He was also impressed by the performers’ sincerity throughout the performance. “My understanding is that many of the dancers and performers have experienced this firsthand,” Mr. Trusty said. “This is genuine passion, not manufactured. It shines through in the way they conduct themselves.”

Reporting by Terri Wu and Olivia Li.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.