SACRAMENTO, Calif.—Steve Bird, mayor of Dixon, and his wife, Marilee Bird, saw Shen Yun Performing Arts on March 29 at the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center.
“It was enlightening, it was wonderful, relaxing. Everything—the pageantry, the costume—we’re not going to call them costumes, but the wardrobe—is wonderful,” Mr. Bird said.
Shen Yun, based in New York, is on a mission to present “China before communism,” and revive people’s connection with 5,000 years of Chinese civilization and culture.
Mayor Steve Bird and his wife, Marilee Bird, at the Shen Yun Performing Arts performance at the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center on March 29, 2026. NTD
“I think they’re doing a wonderful job, and we should never forget our past or any culture. Hold on to that and educate the current people that didn’t experience it. Never let that die and keep it alive by shows like this and sharing it with others,” Mr. Bird said.
Shen Yun’s artists are trained in classical Chinese dance, one of the most comprehensive dance systems in the world.
“It’s wonderful. I wish I could move like that, but those years are many years gone behind me. The athleticism of the dancers is just amazing,” Mr. Bird said.
Chinese literature, along with Chinese history and legend, is a rich source of inspiration for Shen Yun.
“It’s just stunning—the colors, the dancing, the story itself. All the artistic designs—I’m in love,” shared Mrs. Bird.
One dance that left a deep impression told the true story of Falun Dafa practitioners following the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. Despite their goodness, they are being persecuted for their faith in present-day China.
“That was a part of the culture I didn’t understand until recently. But having learned that, the perseverance to keep that faith and hold on to that part of your past is pretty amazing, and it shows strength and perseverance,” Mr. Bird said.
For those who haven’t seen Shen Yun, Mr. Bird shares that Shen Yun is an experience that is difficult to express with words. One has to see it to really understand it.
“I think it’s hard to explain, and you should actually experience it. You have to at least experience it once to understand the feeling that you can take away from this performance and understand just the turmoil and the challenges these people have been through,” he said.
Mr. Bird described Shen Yun as a “full embodiment of comfort and peace.”
The mayor has also issued a letter of recognition to Shen Yun.
