NEW YORK CITY—Entrepreneur John Neese and his wife were thoroughly impressed with Shen Yun Performing Arts’ evening show at the David H. Koch Theater. It was their first time attending, and Mr. Neese said that it “won’t be the last.”
“It was a great show,” he said. “I thought [the artistry] was amazing. From the costumes to the choreography to the music, it was just absolutely amazing. I think everybody should go see this.”
“The dancers were great. They were top-notch.”
Mr. Neese also praised Shen Yun’s singer, who performs original Chinese songs in the classical bel canto style, known for its purity and expressive beauty.
“She was beautiful,” he said. “Her voice was amazing. The song, I think it carried a great message with it. I really enjoyed that.”
“It’s really about being good to other people. It’s not about imposing what you believe someone else should do; you should let them live their life, and you should live yours, and happiness and goodness will come back to you.”
China is one of the world’s oldest civilizations. Its 5,000 years of history is filled with legends and rich traditions. Yet, within just a few decades following the rise of the Chinese Communist Party, this magnificent culture was almost destroyed.
As atheism spread, belief in the divine was suppressed, and the moral values passed down through Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism were pushed aside. Today, New York–based Shen Yun seeks to revive this lost heritage and bring back the beauty of China before communism through classical Chinese dance and music.
Reflecting on the artists’ dedication to bring back traditional culture and raise awareness about the ongoing human rights issues in present-day China under communist rule, Mr. Neese said the artists are doing a wonderful job.
“I think what’s happening in China right now is awful, and I think more people need to see [Shen Yun] and things like this to understand the roots of where the Chinese people are from,” he stated.
The performance “can teach us a lot. You can exist with other people, rich or poor ... and have different ideologies. We can all come together and celebrate life and happiness and joy.”
“I’m definitely leaving much happier and much more knowledgeable about ancient Chinese culture. It’s just an uplifting, good feeling.”
Mr. Neese commended the artists for all their dedication and encouraged them to “keep up the good work.”
“You’re doing amazing things,” he said. “You’re getting your message out to the people, and I think that’s the best way to do it. You’re doing a great job. Thank you so much.”
