SARASOTA, Florida—Don Cavern, formerly with the Security and Exchange Commission, wondered how he’d describe Shen Yun Performing Arts. “It’s so magnificent that you really have to see it to appreciate it,” he said, after seeing the performance at the Van Wezel Arts Hall on April 23.

Mr. Cavern attended the classical Chinese dance and music performance with Edna Robinson, the original owner of the Houlihan’s Restaurants.

“I think it’s wonderful,” Ms. Robinson said. “I love the costumes, dancing. I love the music, the interesting sounding musical instruments. It’s lovely.”

According to the New York company’s website, “a Shen Yun performance features the world’s foremost classically trained dancers, a unique orchestra blending East and West, and dazzling animated backdrops—together creating one spectacular performance.”

Mr. Cavern said that they’d been looking forward to the performance, “and it’s absolutely terrific, we really enjoyed it,” saying the dancing, costumes, and music were perfect.

“The illustration, the … coordination between the video and the dancers is just perfect,” he said.

Shen Yun digitally animated backdrop creates the effect that the stage performers fly to celestial realms and back to earth.

“I think it’s an excellent representation of the” Chinese culture and the Chinese philosophy of life,” Mr. Cavern said.

At its core, Shen Yun aims to present the values and principles of traditional Chinese culture.

“Compassion, tolerance, truthfulness—I think that’s very important, very good lessons for everybody,” Ms. Robinson said.

“It’s just beautiful and colorful,” Ms. Robinson said.

Reporting by Edie Bassen and Sharon Kilarski

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

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