OMAHA, Neb.—Shen Yun seems to bring out the best in people. Maybe it’s magic. “Magical,” that was the one word that Peggy Duggan used to describe a performance by Shen Yun Performing Arts Touring Company. The retired social worker saw the traditional Chinese dance and music performance with her husband, Garry, at the Orpheum Theater, on Jan. 14.

Shen Yun aims to restore the values and traditions of a time long gone in China. “For 5,000 years divine culture flourished in the land of China. Humanity’s treasure was nearly lost, but through breathtaking music and dance, Shen Yun is bringing back this glorious culture,” according to the company’s website.

Mr. Duggan, a retired state official, sensed the spiritual tone to the performance and said that he felt all faiths were basically the same, “You know, we all believe in God. And it doesn’t matter what you call it.”

The ancient legends, tales from literature and stories of present day China are not only told by Shen Yun through dance, they all have the same basic undercurrent: showing the principles of being a good person.

They all aimed at uplifting us to be good people.

“Throughout history almost every culture looked toward the divine for inspiration. Art was meant to uplift,” the company website explains. And thus the stories performed tell of people holding fast to their faith, of heroes sacrificing for their country, or of the purity of nature.

For Mr. Duggan the common value included: “Yes, definitely to be a good person,” Mr. Duggan said. “And we need to be kind in general to the world. Not only to the people in the world but to the world itself.”

Reporting by Sally Sun and Sharon Kilarski

New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has four touring companies that perform around the world. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.

Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time. We have proudly covered audience reaction since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.