PHOENIX—Former Los Angeles area K-Earth 101 radio host Bo Woods now lives in Prescott, Arizona, which is 90 miles from Phoenix. On April 2, Mr. Woods and family made a trip to Phoenix to watch Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Orpheum Theatre.

“We drove all the way down here just for Shen Yun. We have two children studying Mandarin at school. So we thought this would be some great culture to show the kids,” Mr. Woods said.

Mr. Woods was particularly impressed by how the different elements of Shen Yun program are put together. “I loved how they intertwined the multimedia with the live action on the stage. That was fantastic. I loved it.”

According to the website, with state-of-the-art graphics technology, Shen Yun’s digital-backdrop team creates vividly animated settings, extending the stage and transporting the audience to a world where heaven and earth are one.

Mr. Woods also enjoyed the classical Chinese dance, the hallmark of a Shen Yun Performance. He said, “I felt very happy watching the dancers. I like the sleeves and the fans, and all the special effects. It was just a joy to watch.”

For 5,000 years divine culture flourished in the land of China, the company’s website states. Yet in recent decades, humanity’s treasure was nearly lost. Through breathtaking music and dance, Shen Yun is bringing back this glorious culture.

It was inspiring to Mr. Woods. “It’s nice to see the Chinese version of religion compared to the American version. And it is very refreshing and upbeat, very colorful and wonderful.”

Appreciating Shen Yun’s Spiritual Messages

In addition to classical Chinese dance, Shen Yun also features bel canto soloists. The lyrics are all original works brimming with philosophical reflection about human life, the program notes explain.

George and Michelle Foster were deeply moved by the songs. George Foster is a retired police officer.

“The lyrics are very spiritual in nature. It kind of touched me,” said Mr. Foster. He and his wife are both spiritual people and felt similarities to the traditional culture through that aspect. “To me it was more, it’s right here. That’s where I felt it. As I’m talking about it, my hands are sweating so I still feel it.

Mrs. Foster, a physical therapist, also liked that spiritual aspect. “I greatly enjoyed it. I love the colors, the movement, and the music. I love the spiritual messages I received today. I think I’m leaving here a better person because of it.”

The Fosters especially enjoyed the piece depicting an elderly couple’s steadfast hearts in their belief of Falun Dafa, a practice that teaches truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance.

Mr. Foster said, “I thought of my wife and I during that piece. I can relate to it.”

Mrs. Foster was moved to tears. She also enjoyed the finale. “The last one was moving. They were persecuted just because they were trying to stay true to their belief. I loved when Buddha came at the end and saved everybody,” Mrs. Foster said.

Mr. Foster felt Shen Yun informed as well as entertained, and hoped many people would have the open mind to hear what Shen Yun had to say. Mrs. Foster, for one, was grateful for what Shen Yun had to say.

“I am grateful for the message that they dared to give,” she said. “I am grateful that people believe it’s better to be enlightened, thoughtful, and to have other views and ideas than all the sameness that our society tends to push. I was grateful for that message today.”

George Foster jokingly said, “Tonight, I’m taking home that I want to be the Monkey King. It’s a wonderful story.”

Mrs. Foster added, “I think all of that was amazing. I appreciate all the time and effort and talents that those young people put into, putting that together for us. It was an amazing program.”

Reporting by NTD Television, Marie-Paul Baxiu, and Sophia Fang

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.

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.