BREMEN, Germany—Shen Yun Performing Arts took to the stage at the Metropol Theater Bremen, which was filled to capacity with an enthusiastic audience that gave the artists three curtain calls on the afternoon of May 1.

Amongst the audience members was Axel Hager, a former Olympic athlete, member of the German national beach volleyball team, and the bronze medalist at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.

“I like the mix of aesthetics, athleticism, modern stage design together with the traditional component. Everything is wonderfully combined in this program. It’s really fun to watch,” Mr. Hager said. “I am really excited about the expression, aesthetics, and elegance of the artists. The jumps are very impressive.”

“I really believe that the Chinese culture and traditions that have developed over thousands of years are not that far away from the Western world, ” he said. The belief in China that life comes from heaven or that one wants to return there is very similar to the Western belief.

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His wife Sabine, an artisan by profession, said she felt transported by the performance.

“It’s like traveling around the world. You immerse yourself in another world, 2,000 years ago, and suddenly you are back in today’s time,” she said.  With the modern stagecraft, the beautiful colors, and the perfectly synchronized dancers, it was a wonderfully colorful mix, she said, adding that she highly recommended it.

“I want to tell artists to definitely keep going because they are ambassadors for the world, for the good in the world. And that’s a good thing,” said Mr. Hager.

Also in the audience was Norbert Minn, who works in a managerial position at a German health insurance company.

“It’s really worth watching the show,” he said.

Johann Kimmel, who came from Braunschweig to attend the performance with his partner and parents, said the performance was “completely beyond my expectations.

Mr. Kimmel, an entrepreneur, said he had seen an advertisement online and immediately bought group tickets. He shared that he counted 18 pieces in the program, which together provided rich insight into traditional Chinese culture.

“There can hardly be a better cultural education,” he said.

He praised the acting, music, synchronization, and the many elements of the production coming together.

“That was incredible. You can’t imagine that you can create so many sounds with two strings—very impressive,” Mr. Kimmel said.

Ancient Chinese civilization centered on the belief in harmony between heaven, earth, and humankind, which Mr. Kimmel said he thought was exemplified in one of the stories.

“One piece also showed what effect this has on the body and mind. It came out very well,” he said, adding that it inspired him and that he may well come again next year.