SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun’s Mission Is ‘Critically Important,' Says Texas Congressman

Jan 09, 2026

1/9/2026Updated: 1/9/2026

WASHINGTON—Rep. Nathaniel Moran, a congressman serving the 1st district of Texas, attended Shen Yun Performing Arts’ evening show at the Kennedy Center Opera House on Jan. 8.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this season, the company is presenting a total of 10 performances at the renowned venue.

Exiting the theatre, Mr. Moran shared that he thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and Shen Yun was both “majestic and moving.”

“I loved the show today,” he said. “It was a powerful tribute—fearless storytelling that boldly pushes back against atheism and communism.”

One of the world’s oldest civilizations, China’s 5,000 years of history are filled with legends and rich traditions. Yet, within just a few decades following the rise of the Chinese Communist Party, this magnificent culture was 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, Shen Yun seeks to revive this lost heritage and bring back the beauty of China before communism through classical Chinese dance and music.

Mr. Moral found the dancers’ performance exceptionally graceful and thought the choreography was fabulous. However, he was most deeply moved by the artists’ mission to restore traditional culture and divine-inspired values.

“It’s critically important for us to give life to traditional Chinese culture that is being suppressed by the current totalitarian regime, the CCP,” he expressed.

“Spiritual faith is the foundation of every great culture. Unfortunately, today, the CCP and the government in China is suppressing this religious freedom and so many other freedoms that are squashing the life out of traditional Chinese culture.”

Commenting on Shen Yun’s story-based dance that raises awareness about the Chinese communist regime’s violation of human rights, Mr. Moran said the presentation was “very effective.”

“Shen Yun means the beauty of divine beings dancing. It’s a great name ... because, truly, it brings life to the changes that need to happen in China,” he shared.

“It’s very important for the international community to understand the suppression and the violation of human rights that’s going on internally in China because of the CCP.”

Since its establishment in 2006, Shen Yun has earned widespread acclaim. Each year, the artists present a brand-new set of choreography and musical compositions, ensuring that both new and returning audience members are always in for a surprise.

Reporting by Frank Liang and Jennifer Tseng.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.