LAS VEGAS—To look at the Hages, a beautiful and spiritual family of five who are ranchers in Central Nevada, one would never guess that part of their story begins in the former Soviet Union under a totalitarian, atheist regime.

“I’m happy to see in a way that people getting that knowledge of freedom,” said Yelena Hage, mother of three, who is originally from Kazakhstan. “You know, and they could experience it. I hope maybe someday more people in China find out more about it, you know, and become free.”

“The whole message that was conveyed, I mean the God and faith and the freedom from the tyranny of the communists—all of it was so real, and I don’t know how to describe it,” Wayne added.

“My wife here lived under communism in the Soviet Union. And so she knows what tyranny was like, and she knows what freedom is. Maybe she can describe it better.”

“One of those stories actually made me cry,” Yelena began. “I know it’s through the dance, but you can understand it very easily and what they’re trying to say. It really, I guess, touches the heart.”

Shen Yun’s performance consists of roughly 20 vignettes, some of which include scenes of believers exercising compassion and forgiveness toward those who persecute them, heavenly scenes, and even glimpses of the Creator, a long-held Chinese belief.

Her husband agreed.

“I thought it was very well done,” Wayne said, “and I think it’s a great message. You see the message of freedom, of faith in God, leading to freedom, versus the tyranny of the government. I thought it was a great message.”

“I’m happy to see in a way that people getting that knowledge of freedom,” Yelena said. “And they could experience it. I hope maybe someday more people in China find out more about it, you know, and become free.”

Wayne and Yelena wished the artists well and expressed their wish that more people can experience Shen Yun’s positive themes.

“And I hope they’re gonna continue doing it and it’s gonna be all around the world they’re going to spread this message,” Yelena said.

“We’ll definitely be back and see it again,” added Wayne.