DENVER—“The soprano’s singing was so beautiful—I was moved to tears,” former journalist Gilnia Contreras said after seeing Shen Yun Performing Arts. “I found myself laughing and crying at the same time, with all my emotions pouring out.”

Ms. Contreras worked as a journalist for nearly 30 years before coming to the United States, primarily in radio but also in television and magazine media. On April 10, she attended Shen Yun at The Buell Theatre in Denver, accompanied by her son and his girlfriend.

“I loved everything,” Ms. Contreras said. “I loved the dancing, and I loved the lady’s singing.” She shared that she had long wanted to see Shen Yun and was delighted to finally experience it. “It was my first time seeing the show—it was truly beautiful.”

Ms. Contreras found the portrayal of ancient China before the communist takeover and the depiction of the persecution under communist regimes deeply resonating. “That was very important to me,” she said. “I’m from Venezuela, and we are currently living under a communist government. So for me, seeing that in the show was a very meaningful experience.”

“What matters most is that someone is finally showing how bad communism can be,” she added. “And the values presented—the faith, the connection to the divine—make the performance very beautiful.” Ms. Contreras noted that Shen Yun’s message of reverence for the divine and belief in higher principles helps guide people back to their true nature. “It brings us back to tradition, and that is a very important value.”

Ms. Contreras believes that these traditional values can help people reconnect with the divine. “The message was very clear to me,” she said. “For me, returning to tradition and keeping faith are very important values.”

She added that she felt these values were especially important for the younger generation. “It was wonderful to share it with my son and his girlfriend, because they are young. I’m glad they could receive that message,” she said.

In closing, she expressed her gratitude for the performance. “I feel grateful to be there and to understand all the emotions,” she added. “It was truly wonderful—very wonderful.”