Shen Yun Artists Are Very Precise and Disciplined, Says Former California Senator

Shen Yun Artists Are Very Precise and Disciplined, Says Former California Senator
Joohn Moorlach enjoyed Shen Yun's evening performance at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts on April 18, 2025. (Michael Run/The Epoch Times)
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Shen Yun

COSTA MESA, Calif.—Former California state Sen. John Moorlach attended Shen Yun Performing Arts’ evening show at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts on April 18.

From the live music to the company’s use of 3D animated backdrop, he enjoyed every aspect of the performance.

“I appreciate the precision and the synchronization, the discipline. Very impressive,” Mr. Moorlach noted. “It’s nice to have the little segments. … It's nice to be entertained for an evening.”

Based in New York, Shen Yun is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company. Its performances feature a series of short dances, including some highlighting various regions of China, as well as solo musical pieces.

Endowed with 5,000 years of history, China was once known as the “Land of the Divine.” For millennia, its people believed that by keeping their hearts pure and adhering to strict moral standards, they would be blessed by the divine.

However, after the communist takeover and the spread of atheism, all this traditional culture was systematically destroyed. Today, the artists’ mission is to bring back the beauty and goodness of pre-communist China.
A devout Christian, Mr. Moorlach noted that while his faith differs from the traditional Chinese spirituality portrayed in the performance, he found “there are a lot of commonalities.”

“I think compassion is important, forgiveness, love, kindness,” he said, reflecting on the moral values conveyed through Shen Yun’s story-based dances.

“There's also a need to be precise about how you conduct your life, and there should be discipline, and there should be a structure where you are also discouraged from doing the wrong thing,” he said.

“I'm taking it from a cultural perspective, and I appreciate all the talent and the history that goes into the [classical] Chinese dancing.”

Summing up the experience, Mr. Moorlach said, “It was a fun evening out. If you enjoy something that's very professional, this is something you'd want to do,” he said.

Since its establishment in 2006, Shen Yun has earned widespread acclaim. Each year, the artists present a brand-new set of choreography and musical compositions, ensuring that both new and returning audience members are always in for a surprise.

Reporting by Michael Ren and Jennifer Tseng.

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