They thoroughly enjoyed the matinee and felt uplifted by Shen Yun’s program. Jaubert, especially, thought it was “wonderfully inspiring” and “quite lovely.”

“It’s really exquisite and incredible. Just the terrific dancing and the incredible backdrop—the talent is remarkable and humorous and yet [carries] such a story and sense of belief in history and culture ... remarkable,” she said.

The New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts was founded in 2006 by elite Chinese artists who had fled the persecution of the communist party.

For 5,000 years, China’s civilization flourished under the shared belief that the divine will bless those who uphold traditional moral values. Tragically, within just a few decades of the communist party’s violent takeover, these beliefs were erased and replaced with atheism.

Jaubert resonated deeply with this mission, describing it as “quite remarkable—the incredible talent that we’re seeing there in the sense of history and cultural development, and growth and the beliefs that people have—it’s what inspires them to dance and to [share their] message.”

Guariglia didn’t miss the stark contrast that this presented with what’s currently going on in China—that Shen Yun is banned from performing there due to “the political doctrine and the restrictions.”

Shen Yun’s performance is comprised of a series of short pieces that take its audience on a journey through the dynasties and across the vast regions of China. Using classical Chinese, folk, and ethnic dances, as well as solo musical performances, Shen Yun tells tales from ancient times to the modern day.

Guariglia said he loved the storyline dances and how they spanned “from Creation to modern times.”

“There’s wonderful humor as well as [it’s] poignant. It’s really quite entertaining too—just very entertaining,” Jaubert added.

From the matinee, she could tell that traditional China was very spiritual.

Seamlessly blending the grandeur of a Western orchestra with the ethereal beauty of Chinese melodies, Shen Yun orchestra’s music produces a profound emotional range that captures the depth of the human experience.