STAMFORD, Conn.—The Palace Theatre in Stamford was abuzz for Shen Yun Performing Arts on May 9. Dennis Noguera, a musician who also repairs musical instruments, said he especially enjoyed the music from the performance celebrating the beauty of “China before communism.”

Shen Yun features a live orchestra with every performance, with both Eastern and Western instruments playing original compositions.

Mr. Noguera’s wife, Lisa, also enjoyed the Shen Yun Orchestra that accompanied the dancers throughout the performance. “I wish we could see them, but we can hear them. It’s lovely,” she said.

“I like the authentic instruments mixed with traditional bass and violin,” Mr. Noguera said. “The Chinese instruments are lovely to hear in combination with them. Very nice.”

He was very struck by Shen Yun’s singer as well, who sung in the traditional bel canto style. Their song’s original lyrics in Mandarin were translated to English for the audience to follow on the backdrop.

“It’s wonderful to see the techniques that are being used—authentic bel canto,” Mr. Noguera said. “My cousin is an Indian dancer—ancient dance, similar to what we see here. It’s ancient dance and it’s fantastic. Where else can you see this?”

Mrs. Noguera expressed her appreciation to the performers. “It’s amazing, amazing. They dance. It’s beautiful. The costumes, their attire is beautiful.”

An audience favorite is the patented digital backdrop that the performers interact with as they jump in and out of magical landscapes.

“I like the background, how they jump up and just appear on stage,” Mr. Noguera said.

Shen Yun’s mission is to revive 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture before communism. The Nogueras loved the stories dramatized on stage and introduced in the program.

“I’m enjoying it. I’m definitely going to read it over again later, as it’s so helpful,” Mrs. Noguera said.

Mr. Noguera said, “It’s a display of some of the history that I wasn’t aware of, and it’s truly inspiring. The dance is wonderful. I don’t know how they do some of those dances.”

China’s traditional culture is filled with spiritual lessons that are universal. Mr. Noguera said how much the stories moved him. “[They] touch me and inspire me.”

Shen Yun whet their appetite for more stories from ancient China. He said he would like to watch it again “so we could see more and learn more. Just seeing it once isn’t good enough.”

“It’s not enough. We’re just being introduced to it,” Mrs. Noguera said.