SAN FRANCISCO—“I think it’s fantastic,” said photographer and production company owner Sean Dana, after watching Shen Yun Performing Arts with his young son at the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco, Jan. 8. 

Mr. Dana, a regular at the Opera House, had heard about New York-based Shen Yun from the venue and his young son was intent on seeing the performance. Usually, his son said, he'd be tired after watching a performance, but Shen Yun had kept his attention.

“The dancing is vibrant and moving,” said Mr. Dana.

As a motion graphics professional, Mr. Dana enjoyed and was impressed by Shen Yun’s use of a digital backdrop.

To accomplish what Shen Yun had, “obviously, you have to have major backgrounds,” Mr. Dana said 

The animated background transports the audience on a 5,000-year journey through the dynasties, and allows the performers to appear on stage one moment, and on screen the next.

Shen Yun was established eight years ago by artists who came from around the globe to revive the divinely-inspired culture through the universal languages of music and dance.

“The feeling it leaves me with is an appreciation for the culture that we haven’t been allowed to see from China for many years,” Mr. Dana said. “I think it’s important to start to see some of it, some of the things that have been repressed for so long.”

The traditional values and art seen in Shen Yun are not found in China today under the current regime.

Mr. Dana appreciated Shen Yun bringing forth the culture and history of China through art, and bringing it to the world. “[Shen Yun] is very important for people to see,” Mr. Dana said.

Although the culture is not often seen today, under the current regime’s oppression, it is universal and easy to relate to, Mr. Dana said. The stories he saw in the performance were ones he believed every culture had, such as the belief that traditional Chinese culture is inspired by the heavens.

“I think that no matter where you come from in life it’s easy to relate to,” Mr. Dana said. “I think for all cultures, it’s very easy for them to understand, because it’s something that is part of almost every culture.”

Reporting by Catherine Yang

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.