DALLAS, Texas—On Jan. 17, Shen Yun wowed audiences at the Eisemann Center in Dallas. The theater was filled to capacity. Former television news anchor Ken Malloy attended the afternoon performance with his wife, Michelle.

“We just love the show,” Mr. Malloy said. “It’s mesmerizing. The amount of talent and orchestration involved, it’s truly an eye-popping performance.”

Mr. Malloy spent 17 years working in television news. Over the course of his career, he anchored more than 30,000 news broadcasts and wrote over 10,000 reports.

Attending Shen Yun for the first time, Mr. Malloy expressed deep admiration for the artists’ skill and dedication.

“The dancers are incredibly synchronized, and the overall coordination is flawless,” he said. “The dancers and musicians are brilliant. The colors are stunning. To achieve something like this takes an extraordinary amount of work and talent.”

“I liked that it touched on current events in China,” he said. “It’s the genesis of this performance to highlight what China used to be like with its traditions, and what it’s like now under Communist China.”

The scenes depicting the persecution of people of faith in China left a strong impression on him.

“It’s heartbreaking,” Mr. Malloy said. “And yet it’s a touch of reality in the midst of fantasy.”

He added that he was particularly moved by the story of Falun Dafa practitioners resisting persecution of their faith during one of the dance pieces, which he felt symbolized people’s steadfast belief and yearning for freedom.

“Religious freedom is written into the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution,” he said. “That’s a universal value. Religion should be free in China as well.”

Reflecting on the message he took away from the performance, Mr. Malloy said Shen Yun conveyed a sense of hope.

“If we find our roots and go back to our traditions, the world is full of hope,” he said. “That’s true not only for China, but for America as well.”

Mr. Malloy expressed heartfelt praise for the Shen Yun artists and the dedication behind the performance.

“They are incredibly talented,” Mr. Malloy said. “I can’t begin to imagine how much practice, drilling, and coordination goes into this. What we see on stage is the result of countless hours of work behind the scenes. They’re simply amazing.”

He said he strongly recommends Shen Yun to others.

“It’s a must-see,” Mr. Malloy said. “It’s mesmerizing, colorful, spectacular, brilliant, and deeply touching.”