CHICAGO—Civic Opera House was filled with an audience expecting Shen Yun Performing Arts on May 2. Michael and Gwen Jebb enjoyed the stirring performance.

“I would say [Shen Yun] is magnificent and peaceful and that it points to God. I appreciate that,” Mrs. Jebb said.

Based in New York, Shen Yun is the world’s leading classical Chinese dance production, and it presents story-based dances that span 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture.

Shen Yun says its performances demonstrate “China before communism.”

“I like it. I think it’s wonderful,” Mrs. Jebb said.

“I think it’s very important in society. I think as we get away from it, our culture—your culture, my culture—suffers,” she said.

Mr. Jebb, a semi-retired businessman now working in ministry, said, “I think it’s wonderful, and I really think it’s great that they’re using art to speak truth.”

“I think the Chinese people have an amazing heritage and this should be preserved and celebrated,” Mr. Jebb said. He noted how the communist regime is suppressing it.

With their life concerned with religious matters, the couple was touched by how divine beings came from heavenly realms to save humanity.

Mrs. Jebb, a paralegal, said this was the first time she attended Shen Yun, “I love it. It’s beautiful. Soothing. I like ‘Water Sleeves.’”

An audience favorite is the patented digital backdrop that interacts with the performers as they jump in and out of the story settings.

Mr. Jebb said, “We love the people coming out of the screen. I think everybody loves that.”

Shen Yun features a singer who sings in Mandarin while the words are projected in English on the backdrop. Mrs. Jebb enjoyed the singer and resonated with the powerful lyrics.

Mr. Jebb said, “We appreciated the hardcore truth in the lyrics to the song that said that evolution and atheism are from the devil. We frankly agree with that.”

Mr. Jebb had just heard about a book about organ harvesting and the author was interviewed by The Epoch Times. He said, “The communist governments are not helping people. The organ stealing is horrendous, and it’s happening. I mean, they just published a new book on that in the last few weeks.”

The Jebbs were not pleased with how mainstream media is spreading false information about Shen Yun. “I’m sorry that the New York Times seems to be following an agenda that’s not based on truth. I have no problem with what’s being done here [by Shen Yun], and I think it should be celebrated,” he said.

Mr. Jebb described his experience at Shen Yun as “it’s beautiful and it’s truth.”