NEW YORK—William Steiner, owner of a maintenance business, said he could see in Shen Yun Performing Arts life with a purpose, with values, and with a bright future.

Mr. Steiner attended the New York-based company’s performance at Lincoln Center on Sunday, and said he appreciated the tranquility and harmony of traditional Chinese culture. Shen Yun revives 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, imbued with the principles of Buddhism, Taoism, and other disciplines.

Chinese civilization is said to be divinely inspired.

“It’s a better lifestyle to be more tranquil, to be more in harmony with yourself,” Mr. Steiner said. He described the culture as presented by Shen Yun, saying it is humble and meaningful: “Every movement means something. … They live with purpose. I am impressed.”

The classical Chinese dancers of Shen Yun follow the principles of the ancient culture. In history, doctors, dancers, calligraphers, and people of many disciplines would pay attention to moral character, posture, and other aspects of bearing. Classical Chinese dance is very expressive, bringing forth the dancer’s inner character; thus for the dance to be beautiful, the mind and heart must also be beautiful.

“Classical Chinese dance integrates the movement of the body with inner bearing,” explains the Shen Yun website.

Mr. Steiner said he sees the values in the world getting worse and worse. “I think a lot of people need some kind of guides or a spiritual life to be more in harmony with themselves,” he said. Through Shen Yun, he said, “People start to understand, like people understood before, there is home, there is a way to be better ourselves, a better life.”

“I love the show a lot,” he said.

Victor Kessler, president of a graphic design company, was also in the audience Sunday. “Amazing performance, beautiful music, the performers are top notch,” he said.

His wife, Carol Kessler, a retired school teacher, said: “It’s a view into Chinese culture, ancient Chinese culture that you would never see in any other way. Very preciously done, beautifully orchestrated, choreographed, and musically wonderful to listen to. A view for anyone that wants to learn about Chinese culture.”

Financial adviser Bob Cushman and his wife, social worker Wendy Cushman, learned much about Chinese culture. “I loved the cultural aspect. I liked the way it flowed, the beginning of the history, and then the current history of China, I thought that was very interesting,” said Mrs. Cushman.

Mr. Cushman said: “Absolutely spectacular. Precision, the majesty, the costumes, the whole show was absolutely, breathtakingly interesting.”

He was surprised to learn that the traditional culture has been suppressed in China under the communist rule, that the regime has sought to break with the values so embedded in the ancient civilization.

Of Shen Yun’s mission to revive the true culture, he said: “With regards to the mission—of the truth—it did very well.”

Reporting by NTD Television, Hannah Cai, and Tara MacIsaac

New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has four touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit Shen Yun Performing Arts.

The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time. We have proudly covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.