SANTA BARBARA, Calif.—Journalist Frank Newton attended Shen Yun Performing Arts’ at the Granada Theatre, March 30.

Mr. Newton writes a column in the Santa Barbara News-Press, and serves as executive director of the nonprofit organization Senior Programs of Santa Barbara.

“I thought it was magnificent,” said Mr. Newton. “I was delighted by the entire experience.”

Established in 2006, New York-based Shen Yun is a non-profit organization dedicated to reviving China’s 5,000 years of divinely inspired civilization through the performing arts. Having reached millions of people across nearly 20 countries and over 100 cities, Shen Yun is widely regarded as a global phenomenon.

“It was pretty beautiful,” Mr. Newton added. “The artistry of the performance was extraordinary, really. Their grace, their athletic ability, the quality of the performances, the history; everything was just wonderful. I was very impressed.”

According to the Shen Yun 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.”

For Mr. Newton, the performance seemed to be a rare treat.

“I would say it was unique,” he explained. “This is the kind of thing we don’t see very much, not only in Santa Barbara, but in the United States. The color and the movement; the grace of the performers was really astonishing.”

Mr. Newton particularly enjoyed the show’s digital backdrop.

“That was entertaining,” he said. “The staging was surprisingly good. It was just amazing how they could blend the dancers with what was done on screen behind it. It melded very well.”

As the website states: “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.”

In Mr. Newton’s opinion, the show is an experience that everyone should see.

“I think anybody would enjoy [it],” he said. “I definitely would recommend it.”

Reporting by Keith Yuan and Morgan Bradley

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