“The feeling was overwhelming. It was like I had entered another dimension, another world of such precise beauty. Along with the music, the orchestra, and the lights, everything was so beautiful—the dancers, their faces, makeup, hair, colors, everything was so beautiful—I was really in a dream for two and a half hours,” she said, 

Beyond dance, Shen Yun is also noted for its unique musical aspects: its orchestra is the first in the world to permanently combine Chinese and Western instruments, performing original compositions to accompany the dances, and Shen Yun’s programs typically include bel canto soloists singing Chinese lyrics.

The vocalists showed Ms. Lugassy something new. The melodies and the words were Chinese, but sung in the authentic bel canto style, which amazed her.

“There was something so authentic and so noble—that’s the word I was looking for. There was something very noble in today’s performance,“ she said. ”And I think it even changed the way I sing. And the way I will look at the audience and look at the music next time. It was very, very interesting.”

“I looked at all the details: The colors, the color combinations, the flowing fabrics, the way all the colors were combined with each other, actors with actors, dancers with dancers. Everything was very vivid and full of life. I really loved it. Each piece had its own color, its own world, its own character, and there was no piece that resembled another. I really loved it,” she added.

The values the art delivered were equally impressive for Ms. Lugassy.

“The values touched me very much, because basically every person wants to live in his own way, with his own belief, and everyone needs to live in complete freedom with these things. There is no person in the world who deserves to be in a place where he or she is not complete with it or in a belief that he or she is not complete with. Everyone needs to choose their own path, to walk their own way no matter what. And I think that was the message today,” she said.

“I deeply respect it. It was very touching to see,” she said. “It was very moving and inspiring.”

Shen Yun was “inspirational and divine,” and a “one-time, unique something that you don’t see anywhere else.”

‘Light as Air’

Having lived in China himself, Noam Vardi, a well-known TV director and producer in Israel, attended Shen Yun in order to see “traditional China.”

Mr. Vardi explained that the tickets for Shen Yun in Israel were sold out three months ago, and that in the last moment, a few additional seats were opened. Mr. Vardi quickly bought tickets and found himself sitting in the front row next to the orchestra, a unique experience for him as a director who is used to watching performances from a distance.

“I am currently directing martial arts performances, I just came back yesterday from a martial arts camp in Thailand. Therefore, I particularly enjoy the dancers’ physical abilities—they are doing very complex and painful movements, yet they are as light as air. It’s very impressive, even more so when you’re sitting in the front row. From the fifth row and above, you might get the feeling that it’s very easy to lift your leg above your head.”

Another aspect that Mr. Vardi enjoyed from his unique seat was the orchestra.

“It’s always amazing to hear a live orchestra, but to hear traditional music with Western instruments together is truly special. I admit that I spent half of the performance observing the musicians in their various roles above the orchestra.”

Mr. Vardi added that he “highly recommend anyone who hasn’t seen the show and wants to experience the scents of China, the amazing movements, and most importantly the music, to attend.”