SAN JOSE, Calif—Hardware engineer Joyce Yeung had a wonderful time at Shen Yun Performing Arts’ matinee on Christmas Eve at the Center for the Performing Arts in San Jose, the first stop of the company’s 2026 North American tour. Originally from Hong Kong, Mr. Yeung was especially excited to see his culture presented in America.
“It’s a very unique show in the Bay Area. It definitely brings Chinese culture to people who are unfamiliar with it. It’s very good, a variety of different, very ethnic performances, so I really enjoyed it,” he said.
The artists “brought the myths into [the performance.] I think that’s very suitable for a young audience to understand the culture. They incorporated it with the dance and made it a very beautiful performance.”
Shen Yun’s performance is comprised of a series of short pieces that take its audience on a journey through China’s dynasties and vast regions. Using classical Chinese, folk, and ethnic dances, as well as solo musical performances, the artists tell tales from ancient times to the modern day.
Based in New York, the company is on a mission to bring back China’s 5,000 years of divine-inspired culture, which was all but destroyed during the decades of communist rule.
Mr. Yeung was deeply impressed with this mission and found it extremely important.
“China has a very rich culture for thousands of years, but it’s definitely not showing those values right now in the current government,” he commented.
“So, I think a group like [Shen Yun] is bringing these cultural traits and beauty to the general audience—it’s very important and very critical work.”
From the matinee, Mr. Yeung would be taking home more than just beauty. “It’s like kindness—keeping an open mind and heart to the people, and you will receive beauty in return,” he shared. “It’s like a full circle.”
Having come from Hong Kong, Mr. Yeung understood first-hand the hardships of living under the Chinese Communist Party and found Shen Yun’s dance pieces raising awareness of the persecution of people of faith very relatable.
“Hong Kong is definitely different right now. … It’s been persecuted for different reasons, but I feel that the results is the same—fewer people are enjoying freedom, and it’s sad.”
Finally, Mr. Yeung urges everyone to “come see the show.”
“If you’re not accustomed to Chinese culture, this definitely opens the door for you to find more beauty in dances and performance like this,” he expressed.
“They’re sticking very true to Chinese traditional dance … very skillful dancers. It’s very impactful.”
