SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

CEO Brings Daughters to Shen Yun to See China’s Ancient Traditions

Mar 04, 2023

BILLINGS, Mont.—Daniel Catone, CEO of a national asset management company, brought his daughters to the Shen Yun Performing Arts in Billings at the Alberta Bair Theater on the afternoon of March 4.

“It’s beautiful. It’s very elegant,” he said.

“It’s different than I thought it would be. I think the political expression was surprising, and I thought enlightening, [but] very sad. Also, the cultural beauty of China is impressive. I don’t know a lot about the culture of China and the ancient traditions of dance and things like that, so being able to see it firsthand has been really wonderful.”

Based in New York, Shen Yun was founded in 2006 by leading Chinese artists and quickly became the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company. Shen Yun’s mission is to revive traditional Chinese culture.

The dancers impressed him. “It’s quite beautiful and quite elegant.”

Shen Yun means “the beauty of divine beings dancing,” which Mr. Catone felt the artists conveyed exactly. He felt those “undertones that go throughout all of the dance, and the maneuvers, and things that they’re doing, and of course, the things that they’re saying and singing. That adds kind of a different dimension to it.”

He said it’s important for people to see this today. “We don’t see a lot of things like these in modern times. At least, I don’t know what it was like in the past, but now it’s pop culture, and it seems things are a little bit cheaper. But this seems very authentic, and deeper, and truly quite enjoyable.”

Mr. Catone brought his daughters to get to see other cultures.

“I brought both of my girls because I think cultural expression is important. I want my kids to be exposed to other nations, and other cultures, and peoples, and their beliefs.”

He also wanted his daughters to see what is really happening in China. “I think recognizing the oppression that’s going on in China by the communist government against the people, and the religious persecution is important. So I want them to be exposed to the truth.”

He was pleased that Shen Yun is reviving the culture of China before communism. “I love it. I think it’s wonderful.”

“I’m a very religious Catholic. One of the most basic beliefs is we have a religion founded on love and kindness, and truth and dignity of every human person. To hear what the Chinese people have to say through the dance, and the expression of kindness and honesty, and the unity that they’re expressing, I think is very lovely and nice.”

He expressed his gratitude for the experience. “I just want to say thank you to the dancers and everybody who’s doing the beautiful work on the stage. It’s been a fantastic event for us, and we’re very glad to have people here to entertain my family. Thank you.”

Reported by NTD.

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