Retired CFO Discovers What China Was Like Before Communism

Feb 13, 2026Shen Yun

DALLAS—Matt Patrick, a retired CFO, and his wife saw Shen Yun Performing Arts on Feb. 10 at Eisemann Center.

“It’s very good. My wife and I were enthusiastic about coming. We didn’t really know what to expect, but we’ve seen some of the advertisements for it, and I just thought it would be a fun thing to do, and I am not disappointed at all,” shared Mr. Patrick, who used to work for a public health company.

Shen Yun, based in New York, is on a mission to present “China before communism,” and revive people’s connection with 5,000 years of Chinese civilization and culture.

“I’m learning more about the history of China and then some of the cultural things,” Mr. Patrick said.

Many Americans think of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) when they think of China. Yet while the CCP runs on an atheist ideology, China before communism was a place where everyone—from the emperor to his people—looked to the divine for guidance.

“I’m Catholic. And so the fact that there’s a similar faith tradition in China that believes in [a] higher power, God, and the Creator in the past, I didn’t know any of that was part of Chinese culture, so I’m very glad to discover it,” Mr. Patrick shared.

Mr. Patrick’s wife also felt that Shen Yun had been an educational experience for her.

“I think it’s putting me in touch with Chinese culture. It’s bringing it to life for me, very much so,” she said.

What left a deep impression on Mr. Patrick was Shen Yun’s digital backdrop. The use of its digital backdrop is patented. The versatility of the technology allows the set to change scenes in the blink of an eye, giving the stage endless possibilities.

“The dancing is very good. I love the costumes. Probably the biggest thing that stands out is the integration of the animation with the performance. I’ve never seen that anywhere before, and it just blows me away. It’s wonderful,” Mr. Patrick said.

But what held real value to Mr. Patrick was Shen Yun’s effort to present the beauty of upholding traditional values.

“I appreciated the traditional values of their faith. That’s probably the most important one for me,” he said, adding that he enjoyed seeing the dance, ‘Scholarly Affection,’ which touched on the education of young ladies.

Reporting by Jane Yang and Maria Han.

From The Epoch Times

NTD is a media sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts, covering audience reactions since 2006.