NEW YORK, N.Y.—Anticipation filled the David H. Koch Theater as the curtain rose on Shen Yun Performing Arts on March 29. Stein Grieg and Johanna Rishodd enjoyed the performance tremendously. The couple was visiting from Norway.

Mr. Grieg, an award-winning Norwegian composer for films, said, “I think it was so amazing. The dancers are incredible; we are just overwhelmed by their skills. Overall production was 10 out of 10. Perfect! We hadn’t heard about it before, and we are so pleased to be here.”

As a professional musician, Mr. Grieg commented on the blending of Chinese with Western music. “It’s not what I usually listen to, but it was very inspiring. Maybe I will pick up some melodies and use it for my own composition,” he said.

Ms. Rishodd, a psychologist, said, “I think it was really fun to watch and inspiring. I was very impressed.”

Shen Yun features a live orchestra with both Eastern and Western instruments. Mr. Grieg said, “I really enjoyed the orchestra. It was beautiful.”

Jose Tapia, owner of a national construction company, said, “Amazing. It’s very unique and wonderful. Very fulfilling. It’s our first time.”

Mr. Tapia described how Shen Yun presents Chinese culture so well. “It’s just like the culture, the music, and the message that every dance tries to tell the story.”

He was impressed with the message conveyed in the dance stories. “I’ve never been to China, but just from the different customs, the storytelling is wonderful. Very unique,” he said.

Mr. Tapia was moved by Shen Yun’s singer. As she sings in Chinese, the lyrics in English are projected on the backdrop. “It was very, very nice, reading what the singer was singing. It was very nice, very fulfilling.”

For him, the message was “You have to live life in the moment.”  But he said keeping traditions are also vital in one’s life: “Tradition is important. It’s important not to lose the traditions of one’s culture.”

He appreciated the skill and training of the dancers, especially as performed in the Mongolian dances. “The physical is amazing; It was very unique.”

Mr. Tapia said he liked “The Origin of the Monkey King,” saying it was funny.

Audiences have often commented on the energy that flows from the performance, and Mr. Tapia agreed.

“It’s very uplifting and emotional,” he said.

Shen Yun tours the world to share traditional Chinese culture with audiences. However, the communist regime has banned Shen Yun from performing in China. “I didn’t know that this show cannot be performed in China,” Mr. Tapia said.

But he appreciated that Shen Yun could share it in other places. “I think it offers a lot of understanding for other people like me,” he said.