Mr. Thomas Sr., retired from government service, said, “I enjoyed the talent that was there. The music, I thought was great, and it just flowed beautifully.”

The Mongolian dance impressed Mr. Thomas Sr. “I thought it was very energetic, and I just like the way that they went out there and performed their dance. It was great.”

For Mr. Thomas Jr., each dance had its own special quality. “They all stood out for different reasons, I would say. But the one that was most colorful for me, that I will remember, was the majestic sleeves—I thought it was very, very nicely orchestrated and choreographed. [The dancers] make it look very easy, but we know it’s very, very challenging. It’s very beautiful.”

“I think that this was probably, outside of other movies and film, our first exposure,  to seeing it outside of photos and videos that you see online or on the news. But I think that Western news doesn’t always do a great job of covering everything that’s happening in China, even in present day.

“I think it’s very, very important, and it’s very important for the rest of the world to understand so that we can help continue to advocate and spread the message of the beauty of the traditions of pre-communism,” he said.

There were many things to take from Shen Yun’s performance. “I think the one thing for us,” Mr. Thomas Jr. said, “was just make sure you keep an open mind into what’s happening in the world outside of the country that you live in. I think that that’s the most important thing.

“I think if you can have more shows like this where you’re expressing very difficult topics in very beautiful ways through dance and through color and through music, that it’s a lot easier for folks to understand and continue to advocate for the restoration of the traditions.

“I think it’s the comparison and the contrast between the beautiful traditions, and the tranquility, and the peace of China pre-communism, as opposed to, what’s happened and transpired over the last, hundreds of years.

“I think that the most important thing for us to take away is to make sure to focus on sustaining the traditions of our country, and the importance of restoring the tradition of China pre-communism,” he said.

Mr. Thomas Sr. said, “Totally agree. And plus, we can’t always have a certain concept of China. We’re all people. We put on our pants the same way every day. So let’s try to understand each other better. The most important part is our grandchildren being here, so that we can let them also realize what’s happening and give some good act of understanding.”

Mr. Thomas Jr. said one scene shocked him. “I would say the one where the brother, and the sister, and the mom, where the sister was exposed to the learnings of Dafa, I guess, you know, in the book. And then, she was taken away and was persecuted by the communist police.

“I think that one [scene], to me, was probably the most shocking. Not the fact that it happened, but the fact that, in some instances, it still happens. I think that was probably the most shocking,” he said.

“Oh, Unbelievable! Terrific,” said his father.

“Truly unparalleled. The musicians, the singers, the soloists, the dancers,” said Mr. Thomas Jr.

“You can see it in their faces,” Mr. Thomas Sr. “The way that they dance and they get out there. You just feel very happy and free.”