MÜLHEIM AN DER RUHR, Germany—Culture is what defines a nation and Shen Yun Performing Arts presents the true identity of China—the identity it had before communism.

“This is a demonstration of absolute world culture. The best side of China is shown here on a really big stage, a really big backdrop, and a lot of discipline and artistry. It’s everything you could hope for, right down to inspiring music,” said Richard Schütze, a lawyer and founder of VALERE Academy.

Shen Yun is based in New York, and its mission is to revive 5,000 years of Chinese culture. In the performance, Mr. Schütze saw universal values that permeated through these five millennia.

He shared that in Shen Yun, he saw “The representation of human dignity, freedom, justice, and solidarity and the great virtues of love, faith, and hope for a better world. As well as the human virtues of prudence, wisdom, justice, mercy, and truthfulness.”

Shen Yun’s artists are trained in classical Chinese dance. Through fluid dance movement accompanied by all original music, Shen Yun tells stories without the use of words.

“Many of the pieces were about sacrifice, bravery, but also forgiveness. The idea of not defending yourself or fighting back, but instead becoming friends with someone who has done bad things to you in the past, is conveyed beautifully in many scenes,” said Mr. Schütze. 

The many dynasties that reigned over the land now known as China have always had a deep belief in the divine. However, since the CCP came to power, the Chinese people have lost that connection with the divine.

After seeing Shen Yun, Mr. Schütze was reminded that “before human existence, there was a greater power that brought humans into existence.”

He also saw Shen Yun’s portrayal of how modern technology is making people more disconnected from each other as well as from the divine.

“There is also a criticism of a modernist way of life that sometimes detaches itself from all the foundations of being human,” said Mr. Schütze.

Renate Brune, an entrepreneur and a board member of VALERE Academy, was also in the audience on February 24.

Seeing Shen Yun, Ms. Brune could tell that a production like this definitely did not come out of China.

“I thought the choreography and dancing were just incredible. We can tell that this lightness, elegance, and dedication is not associated with the current China. These myths or the [story of] creation are not that far away from our ideas [in Germany], and those ideas are totally suppressed in China by communism,” she said.

Ms. Brune was particularly moved by the majestic backdrop in the closing dance. She shared that it reminded her that “we are all one, and we belong together in this world, and religions like Buddhism and Christianity connect us.”