NEW YORK CITY—Amid the vibrant arts scene of New York City, Shen Yun Performing Arts offered Darryl Wood and Alyssa Cohen a distinctive cultural experience—one that combined visual beauty with storytelling and tradition in a way they found both engaging and memorable.
The couple attended the performance at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center on April 11.
Mr. Wood is currently the chief financial officer of a new energy battery company and has a professional background spanning major financial institutions such as Ernst & Young, UBS, and HSBC.
Ms. Cohen shared a similar sentiment, noting that Shen Yun’s expressive storytelling made the performance especially engaging. “I love that you can understand the story of the dance without much explanation. The performers are so expressive in their acting.”
She shared that experiencing diverse cultures has long been a passion of hers, especially when it comes to learning about traditional Chinese culture.
The performance by Shen Yun’s soprano, in particular, stood out to Mr. Wood. “The singing was beautiful. Her voice was very operatic—strong and full of emotion. She was clearly very passionate, and the story behind the song was fascinating.”
Ms. Cohen also reflected on the deeper message conveyed through the performance. “The message is that the world isn’t what it used to be, and we should strive to make it better—to return to a more traditional, perhaps older way of feeling.”
Having experienced the performance firsthand, Mr. Wood described it as both memorable and enriching. “It’s something you’ve never seen before. It’s very unique, fascinating, and a cultural experience.”
