DAYTON, Ohio—"We get a very distorted view from the Chinese culture, you know. We see China more like the communist regime that is there today. We don’t think about China with the arts, the fine clothing, … the fine poetry, … the pursuit of happiness, and the pursuit of the divine. We don’t know … this other side, with what the communism brings us,” said Olavo Jordao, after seeing Shen Yun Performing Arts at Dayton’s Mead Theatre.

The Lead System Engineer at GE Aviation attended the Chinese music and dance program, a presentation that is trying to bring back the traditional and divinely inspired culture, on Feb. 25 with his wife, Tereza.

“Through the universal language of music and dance, Shen Yun weaves a wondrous tapestry of heavenly realms, ancient legends, and modern heroic tales, taking you on a journey through 5,000 years of Chinese culture,” according to the Shen Yun’s website.

The couple heard about the performance when they lived in Los Angeles but couldn’t see it at that time. “And then we moved to Ohio and when we saw that they were here, immediately we bought the tickets and were waiting for the performance,” he said.

Both also seemed moved by the emotions they saw onstage. Shen Yun showcases classical Chinese dance which, in addition to being one of the most comprehensive dance systems in the world, is also one of the most expressive, according to the company’s website.

Mr. Jordao enjoyed “participating in a culture that is 5,000 years old and seeing still today how it applies.” In particular he mentioned some of the dances that depicted the current repression by the communist party of the Chinese people. He felt that he could relate to the people trying to express themselves under that oppression.

More than that, he thought the values expressed by Shen Yun “are still applicable today: the values of peace, the values of tolerance, the values of meditation, try to look for the good, trying not to look too much for the bad and to prize people. Yes, outstanding, still good today,” he said.

Mr. Jordao described how every aspect of the performance was outstanding, from the flyers and posters to the dancers, the costumes, the music, the backdrops with projections—part animation, part reality as they seem to come to life as dancers onstage. “We would come again every time they come to town, yes,” he said.

Reporting by Joan Wang and Sharon Kilarski

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.