Shen Yun’s ‘China Before Communism’ Resonates With Theatergoers in New Jersey
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Jan McKenzie (R) and Edward McNeal attend Shen Yun Performing Arts at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, N.J., on May 3, 2026. Weiyong Zhu/The Epoch Times
NEWARK, N.J.—When China opened its doors to the world’s money in the late 1970s, many hoped it would lead to greater freedom. But today, the very existence of Shen Yun Performing Arts proves that the opposite happened.
Now 20 years old, Shen Yun was established by artists forced to flee religious persecution in mainland China. Finding freedom of expression in America, they established Shen Yun in upstate New York to raise awareness. The company now tours to share with the world “China before communism.”
On Sunday afternoon, Jan McKenzie watched as dozens of Shen Yun’s dancers enacted ancient myths onstage at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. She listened as Shen Yun’s orchestra wove a tapestry of sound, blending Chinese and Western classical instruments.
Ms. McKenzie, a financial advisor who visited China in 1979 when very few Westerners had seen its rich, 5,000-year-old culture, spoke to The Epoch Times in the theater on Sunday. “I’ve learned a lot about Chinese history in the past, so this was really great,” she said. “I love to see the artistry.”
Shen Yun’s artists specialize in classical Chinese dance, an art form that goes back thousands of years. While the company’s artistry, costumes, and choreography are visually stunning, the stories dig deeper into the soul. They remind of timeless morals and spirituality, while also depicting the persecution of Falun Gong in modern China.
“I happen to be a Christian, but I understand Falun Gong, and I feel sorry for those people who are persecuted,” Ms. McKenzie said. “I feel [Shen Yun is] getting [its] message across very effectively.”
Mark Chester, a retired company vice president, said at the theater on Sunday that Shen Yun resonated with him. He said he connected with the lyrics of the tenor who featured between dance segments. He also found the classical Chinese dancers unexpectedly athletic with their flips and leaps.
Mark Chester watched Shen Yun Performing Arts at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on May 3, 2026. Weiyong Zhu/The Epoch Times
But it was Shen Yun’s spiritual message that really grabbed him deep down.
“As a Jewish man, I certainly understand how people can be unfortunately persecuted for their beliefs,” he said. “So I kind of connected on that level.”
Something Greater Than Ourselves
From the moment the curtain rises, Shen Yun immerses the audience in China’s spiritually inspired culture—a culture rooted in the country’s ancient identity as the “Land of the Divine.”
A smoke-filled stage brings to life a scene from Heaven where the Creator rendezvous with an entourage of deities. All descend to Earth in a kaleidoscope of special effects to roll out the beginning of Chinese history in a grand procession. Colored costumes light the theater. Majestic music resounds.
The program features heroes like the Monkey King and protectors of the people. Audiences the world over have described Shen Yun as “getting back to basics” by promoting universal values like kindness and respect.
But above all, Shen Yun venerates what has long been persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party—the divine.
Ruben Bello, who works in the travel industry, said after experiencing Shen Yun on Sunday, “As different societies, all aspire for something greater than ourselves, and that’s clearly visible here in the dance and the music and the visionary of the whole thing.”
Ruben Bello watched Shen Yun Performing Arts at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on May 3, 2026. Sally Sun/The Epoch Times
“It’s very easy to have [morality and values] forgotten and overlooked in today’s materialistic world.”
Reporting by Weiyong Zhu, Sally Sun, and Michael Wing.
