CHICAGO—Roger Farrell and Stacy Farrell saw Shen Yun Performing Arts on March 26 at Chicago’s Rosemont Theatre.

Shen Yun, based in New York, is on a mission to present “China before communism” and to revive people’s connection to 5,000 years of Chinese civilization and culture.

Shen Yun’s artists are trained in classical Chinese dance, one of the most comprehensive dance systems in the world.

“I enjoyed the show immensely. I mean, the dancing was phenomenal. The colors, the outfits, the culture, the presentation of the culture, the creativity was just nothing short of excellent,” Mr. Farrell said.

“Those performers, they just float, and you know it’s not as easy as it looks,” said Ms. Farrell, who owns an online homeschool publishing company.

“It’s amazing how much you can communicate without words,” Ms. Farrell stated.

One dance story that left a deep impression told the true story of Falun Dafa practitioners following the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. Despite their goodness, they are being persecuted for their faith in present-day China.

“My heart is broken that the Chinese Communist Party is currently persecuting [Falun Dafa]. All of China should have the free will to believe what they want. I really appreciated that, and I’m glad to support them in that,” Mr. Farrell said.

“The orchestra was stunning,” Ms. Farrell said.

Mr. Farrell added that he appreciated, “That it was a live orchestra as opposed to tracks.”

Shen Yun’s use of its digital backdrop is patented. The versatility of the technology allows the set to change scenes in the blink of an eye, giving the stage endless possibilities.

“The graphic screen—I couldn’t believe it. The people jumping from into the screen and coming [out]. It was the best. I did not expect that,” Mr. Farrell said.

“It was like magic,” Ms. Farrell added.