SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

IT Director Says Shen Yun Is ‘Amazing’

Mar 02, 2025

McALLEN, Texas—On March 1, IT director James McCoy and library director Marisol Vidales experienced Shen Yun Performing Arts for the first time at the McAllen Performing Arts Center. They were spellbound, captivated by the performance’s beautiful artistry and cultural richness.

“It’s amazing. The dance and the choreography were great,” Mr. McCoy said. “The music and the way the dancers are in sync—everything just flows so nicely.”

He was stunned by Shen Yun dancers’ talent and professionalism and jokingly wished he had their flexibility.

As one of the oldest civilizations in the world, China’s 5,000 years of history is filled with breathtaking legends and rich traditions. Yet, within just a few decades of the Chinese communists’ rise to power, this magnificent culture was almost destroyed.

The spread of atheism quickly eradicated Chinese people’s belief in the divine. The cherished virtues and values learned from the teachings of Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism almost disappeared overnight.

Today, the New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts is working to revive this lost civilization and bring back to the world through dance and music, the beauty of China before communism.

As a technology professional, Mr. McCoy was especially impressed by Shen Yun’s innovative digital effects, which seamlessly integrate the backdrop projection with the performers on stage, enhancing the storytelling.

“The amazing technical part, where [the dancers are] coming in and off the screen, it just flowed so nicely. … That was amazing,” he said. “The way they drop down and there’s no delays—It’s great.”

Ms. Vidales, too, enjoyed the evening. She was very happy to learn more about the history and traditional values of ancient China.

“I’m learning more than I’ve ever known about Chinese culture. The legends and the religion and all of that, I was unaware of. So, that’s been good,” she said.

“We’ve been impressed by all of them—all the dancers and the music, even the [bilingual hosts] letting us know about the stories. They have been very good too, I’ve enjoyed them as well,” she said.

In particular, Ms. Vidales loved the solo performance by Shen Yun’s soprano. “It was beautiful. … Her voice was amazing,” she said.

Shen Yun’s singers are highly trained in the classical bel canto—a style known for its ability to create tones of unparalleled beauty and purity. Through original compositions and lyrics, the artists invite the listener to explore the deeper meanings of life.

The couple was excited to tell their friends and family about Shen Yun and encourage them to experience its magic for themselves.

“It’s a cultural experience. The dancers are great. The music’s fantastic. Definitely recommend it,” Mr. McCoy said happily. “It’s neat to see different cultures and how they all come together to celebrate beauty.”

Reporting by Sonia Wu and Jennifer Tseng.

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