JACKSONVILLE, Fla.—On the afternoon of Dec. 28, Shen Yun Performing Arts concluded its Florida opening season show at the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts, drawing a warm response from a full house that included business leaders, media professionals, and arts patrons.

Shen Yun’s mission includes reviving traditional Chinese culture that has been suppressed under the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Reyes said the message came through clearly, and it resonated with his view on faith.

“I think encouraging people to find something bigger than themselves is always the first step in faith,” he said. “I think atheism … is sort of a plague and a cancerous poison. And it destroys cultures, it destroys traditional values, it destroys families, and it was beautiful to see the organization incorporate a strong message of faith.”

He praised Shen Yun’s approach to storytelling, which weaves together artistic performances and modern-day realities.

“I think that they’re doing some beautiful, powerful work, inspiring people, waking up a younger generation to learn about the challenges that our entire world faces at the hands of the communist regime [in China] right now,” he said.

Known internationally for its colorful costumes, East-meets-West orchestral score, and immersive digital projection, Shen Yun left a strong impression on Reyes and his family.

“It was beautiful. I’m here with my wife and four little girls,” he said. “I was super excited for them to have that experience. They were mesmerized the entire time. I’ve never seen my kids stay so focused during anything ever as they did today.”

Reyes also highlighted the music, likening it to classic television scores that guide a story’s emotional arc.

As for Shen Yun’s signature digital backdrop, which allows performers to appear to leap seamlessly from the stage into the animated scenery, Reyes said the effect was both mysterious and exhilarating.

“I still can’t figure out how they did it,” he said. “But it was great how they incorporated the live moments with the backdrop, very powerful.”

Several vocal performances, whose lyrics emphasize spiritual belief and moral purpose, also stood out to him.

“We’re all blessed with different gifts from God, and when you know that, and you recognize that, and you follow and pursue that, you live the life that God’s called you to live,” he said.

The production also depicts the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. Reyes said those scenes reinforced his belief in the importance of religious freedom.

“I absolutely love it—the pageantry, the color, the athleticism to be able to pull off those dances and the illusions when they’re coming from the digital screen onto the stage is simply fantastic,” he said.

Guarria, who began his career at Lehman Brothers in New York, said the level of discipline required to reach such artistic precision stood out to him.

“The training that must go into it and the practice to get to that point is really incredible,” he said. “It’s an artistry that I can appreciate so much.”

He was particularly moved by story-based dances portraying Falun Gong practitioners enduring persecution under the protection of divine beings.

“I’m very impressed with how they present the 5,000 years of civilization,” Guarria said. “And I’m very interested in knowing more about the history of China based on what I’ve seen. And I definitely want to know more about Falun Gong.”

While he said he had little prior exposure to communism, Guarria found the themes raised by the performance strikingly relevant, as the persecution of Falun Gong is not frequently raised in the United States.

He said he hopes to invite Shen Yun’s artistic director onto his program, The Opinion Guy, which covers entertainment, sports, and the arts.

“I really appreciate the effort that you’re putting into it,” he said regarding Shen Yun’s artistic director. “I’m going to call you up and get you on my show.”