Shen Yun Is ‘Fantastic. Please Come Again,’ Says History Professor
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Gabrielle and Mark Swartzburg enjoyed Shen Yun's evening show at the Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts on March 3, 2026. Nancy Bao/The Epoch Times
GREENSBORO, N.C.—Dr. Mark Swartzburg, a history professor, and Gabrielle Swartzburg, former justice secretary of Cologne, attended Shen Yun Performing Arts’ evening show at the Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts on March 3.
When Dr. Swartzburg first saw Shen Yun’s advertisement, he knew it was a performance not to be missed.
“I knew it was going to be good. It’s even better than I than I thought. I’ve wanted to see it for years,” he exclaimed. “It’s fantastic. The acrobatics, the athleticism—to the performers, I would say, ‘Thank you. Please come again.’”
Ms. Swartzburg also had a wonderful time. She was initially a bit hesitant about attending, but after watching the evening’s performance, she said, “It’s fantastic.”
“I’m a really, really big fan now,” Ms. Swartzburg said. “The artistsare great.”
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 would 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 China before communism.
Dr. Swartzburg especially enjoyed the company’s story-based dances that recount ancient legends, such as the magical Monkey King from the Chinese classic “Journey to the West,” as well as the present-day piece that raised awareness for ongoing human rights issues in China.
He was deeply moved by the dance “The Steadfast Heart,” which exposes the communist party’s ongoing organ harvest from people of faith to sell on the black market.
“The story of communism—when they have the doctor come out with a knife, that’s pretty heavy,” he said. “I [almost] broke out in tears. That’s absolutely heavy stuff, but I think it’s good that it’s [incorporated] in there.”
In addition to classical Chinese, ethnic, and folk dances, Shen Yun also features singers trained in traditional bel canto—a style known for producing tones of unparalleled beauty and purity. Through original compositions and lyrics, the artists invite the listener to explore the deeper meanings of life.
Dr. Swartzberg loved the songs. Having read the English translation of the lyrics in the program book before the performance, he was impressed by the sentiments they expressed. “I liked that,” he commented.
Finally, Dr. Swartzburg would like to thank the performers again for coming to Greensboro and urges them to return soon. “You’re just fantastic,” he said. “Please come again.”
