SAN FRANCISCO—City Councilmember and former police chief Craig Eicher and his wife, Kimberly, learned about Shen Yun Performing Arts’ 2026 world tour while shopping at the mall and decided to give it a try. After attending the company’s matinee on Jan. 3 at the War Memorial Opera House, he was very glad he did and would definitely be recommending the performance to others.
“It’s very entertaining,” he said. “It’s impressive to see the orchestra playing while coordinating with the dancers.”
Mrs. Eicher chimed in that she also had a wonderful time. “I’ve liked them all,” she expressed. “The dancing, the costume—it’s beautiful. I love the live music.”
The couple was especially moved by the story-based dance that transported the audience to present-day China, delivering a message that if people are willing to uphold traditional moral values and treat each other with kindness, the divine will aid us in times of trouble.
Endowed with 5,000 years of history, China was once known as the “Land of the Divine.” For millennia, its people believed that by keeping their hearts pure and adhering to strict moral standards, they will be blessed by the divine.
Indeed, for 5,000 years, the country prospered. However, after the communist takeover and the spread of atheism, all this traditional culture was systematically destroyed. Today, Shen Yun’s mission is to bring back the beauty and goodness of pre-communist China.
Mr. Eicher agrees with this mission and appreciates the company’s effort in raising awareness about the ongoing human rights issues in present-day China. “Truths are important,” he said. “The world needs to know what’s going on.”
Tony Hall enjoyed Shen Yun's matinee at the War Memorial Opera House on Jan. 3, 2026. Steve Ispas/The Epoch Times
Also enjoying the matinee was Tony Hall, a former member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. It was his first time experiencing Shen Yun, and he thought it was amazing.
“It was a very physical, intricate performance of what life and all of its ensuing emotions is about,” he stated.
“It covered every emotion in mankind in a traditional, respectful, unbelievable performance. I was very inspired. Very inspirational.”
Though Shen Yun is beloved by audiences around the world, due to the artists’ focus on reviving traditional culture and presenting the truth of events under communist rule in present-day China, it is currently forbidden by the regime from performing in China.
As a Christian, Mr. Hall loved the spiritual element of traditional Chinese culture portrayed in the performance. He felt the artists demonstrated the moral values in a very beautiful way.
“Most people here in America have to be exposed to that—the world over. I think it’s wonderful how they’re able to encapsulate it in a performance. [It covers at] its roots, morality and ethics. It’s all about life—the goodness of life, the truthfulness of life—that’s what I like,” he said.
“I think anybody that denies [the divine] after seeing this performance isn’t thinking right. It’s what we need today. We need more of that; it transcends all ethnic groups, and this Chinese performance today shows it. It was very, very good. I enjoyed it.”
Reporting by Nan Su, Steve Ispas, and Jennifer Tseng.
