DETROIT—Thomas Alexander was thrilled to see Shen Yun Performing Arts for a second time at the Detroit Opera House on April 25.

His second consecutive year seeing Shen Yun, the genetics researcher said, “We were here last year for the first time and enjoyed the show immensely. And now, we came back again, the first opportunity … and we 100 percent enjoyed it.”

“Fantastic show, colorful … so graceful, it’s truly a pleasure,” Mr. Alexander said.

“The company is remarkable,” he added. “They’re doing a wonderful job with the display, the costumes, the choreography, the storyline—everything is first-class.”

Mr. Alexander was especially impressed by Shen Yun’s animation of Chinese history for the modern audience. According to the company’s website, the performance consists of 20 pieces that move “from one legend, region, or dynasty to the next.”

“The different transitions of the culture … I call it ‘poetry in motion,’” he said.

He was equally impressed by the dancer’s “transition” between the stage and the digital backdrop.

“The transitions from the screen when they come and jump in … [it’s] wonderful,” he said. “I can see from the reaction of the audience that everyone is very receptive and just truly in awe.”

Shen Yun’s patented method of integrating a 3D animated backdrop with the stage performance allows the performers to uniquely travel back and forth between the stage and the background projection.

To the artistic director of Shen Yun, Mr. Alexander said, “He’s doing a marvelous job.”

Based out of Pasadena, California, Mr. Alexander said he is already looking forward to seeing the performance again.

“My first time here, and I loved it,” Mr. Scruggs said. “The show was colorful, beautiful, [and] told a fantastic story.”

Mr. Scruggs was fascinated to learn about the history and origins of Chinese classical dance. He was surprised to learn that modern-day acrobatics and gymnastics originated from this classical dance system.

“I didn’t realize that [it’s borrowed] from the Chinese dance culture 5,000 years ago and use it today in their things,” he said.

Mr. Scruggs said he had never seen a performance like Shen Yun and was also impressed by the dancers’ integration with the animated backdrop.

“I’m still trying to figure out how they jump through that screen and come back,” he said. “The timing is fantastic.”

One of Shen Yun’s unique features is its live orchestra. It’s the first in the world to permanently combine classical Western and Chinese instruments within a Western symphony orchestra. Shen Yun also boasts virtuoso soloists.

“I like the music … It was very calming and peaceful, and it went along with the story,” Mr. Scruggs said. “I thought the two-string erhu was fantastic. I'd never heard that before, and I loved it.”

The erhu is a traditional Chinese two-stringed instrument that has been called the “Chinese violin.” An incredibly expressive instrument, it is capable of conveying a broad range of emotions, even imitating sounds from chirping birds to neighing horses, Shen Yun’s website explains.

In two words, Mr. Scruggs described Shen Yun as “amazing and beautiful.”

“I can’t wait until next year to see the show again,” he said.