PHILADELPHIA, Pa.—Through the dance and music of Shen Yun, audiences find a way to connect to the people and history of China that is richer and more nuanced than they had encountered before—whether they work with Chinese colleagues, are Chinese-American themselves, or simply enjoy sampling the traditions of various cultures. Rick Loughery, national chairman of the Young Republicans, and his friend Shane Materkowski attended the Feb. 27 matinee. Shen Yun “allows the Western world a really great window into China and what’s actually going on over there, and I think that it helps us understand Chinese culture in a way that we don’t get to because of the way that the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) operates,” Mr. Loughery said. “I think it also allows us to see the beauty of Chinese culture because many Americans—when we think of China today, we think of the communist regime, and it’s good to …