SEATTLE—The wonder of Shen Yun Performing Arts was not lost on Paul Schmidt, Microsoft CFO.

“It’s beautiful,“ he said at Seattle’s Marion Oliver McCaw Hall on April 4. ”We’ve enjoyed the costumes, the dancing; it’s very, very beautiful.”

Through music, dance, and handmade costumes, Shen Yun revives a culture once nearly demolished: China’s 5,000 years of tradition. According to Shen Yun’s website, “Its stunning beauty and tremendous energy leave audiences uplifted and inspired.”

“It’s interesting to see the dances from the different regions of China, a little bit of the mythology, beautiful costumes,” said Mr. Schmidt. He also appreciated hearing stories so unfamiliar to Western audiences.

“Well, I don’t know those stories, so yes, it’s very different,” he said. “I think it’s always interesting to learn about the different cultures and different places.”

Through dance and live orchestral music, the performance brings to life legends and heroes from China’s long and rich history.

Shen Yun’s stories are told predominantly through the lens of classical dance. And in this way, the company’s world-class dancers sustain an art form that has helped to preserve 5,000 years of culture.

“I think it’s very old—these are ancient, ancient stories,” Mr. Schmidt said.

Reporting by Fany Qiu and Michael Fitzgerald

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