Among them was Dorothy Pemberton, a city councilwoman for the City of Downey in Southern California. In addition to her work in local government—where she focuses on public safety and municipal development—Ms. Pemberton is also actively involved in charitable and nonprofit organizations.

Although she had heard about Shen Yun for many years, this was the first time Ms. Pemberton decided to attend.

“I honestly don’t know why I waited so long,” she said. “I felt a calling to come on my own today, and I’m so glad I did.”

“It’s incredibly engaging,” she said. “I loved the live orchestra—the musicians were beautiful. The dancers, the costumes, and the 3D backdrop—even the humor woven into it—it was amazing. I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

“I’ve seen many dance performances and symphony concerts,” she said, “but the 3D backdrop effects here truly blew me away.”

“The show reflects China’s history—what happened in the past and what’s happening today—and it highlights a sense of positivity,” she said. “It also reflects where we are today and the situations we face. It reminds us to stay positive and always keep goodness and kindness in our hearts.”

Reflecting on Shen Yun’s artistic portrayal of China before communism and the realities faced today, Ms. Pemberton said witnessing these stories on stage had a powerful impact.

“I had received some information before, but seeing it firsthand like this is a completely different experience,” she remarked.

She explained that the performance helped her better understand both historical suffering and the ongoing effort to restore traditional values.

“I wasn’t very aware of China’s past,” she said. “But seeing it on stage made me realize how people today are working hard to bring back positivity, the old China, and its traditions.”

“People have to stay strong,” she said. “They need to come together and raise their voices collectively. I truly believe that they can make a difference.”

“They refuse to give in to the communist regime,” she said. “They want to live according to their traditional culture. Keeping that culture alive, making it viable, and raising awareness—especially among young people—is extremely important, just as we strive to do here in our own country.”

She concluded by saying she would enthusiastically recommend Shen Yun to her family and friends and expressed her desire to return.

“The performance is phenomenal,” she said. “I will definitely be back, and I’ll bring others with me.”