“It was very inspiring. I loved it,” Ms. Shoffner said. “The beauty is out of this world.

Seated right next to the orchestra, Ms. Shoffner paid special attention to the musicians. Their dedication made her feel as though she “was in the orchestra again.”

The production consisted of a series of short pieces that takes its audience on a journey through the dynasties and across the vast regions of China. Using classical Chinese, folk, and ethnic dances, as well as solo musical performances, the artists tell tales from ancient times to the modern day.

One of the most memorable aspects for Ms. Shoffner was Shen Yun’s portrayal of the divine. As a Christian, she was deeply moved by the parallels she saw between her faith and traditional Chinese culture.

“It had so many parallels—especially the compassion, the kindness, the love, and that we come from a heavenly country, and we have characters to form here, so that we can go to the heavenly country,” Ms. Shoffner shared.

“I thought that was so beautiful. I didn’t know that that was part of the Chinese culture.”

Ms. Shoffner also appreciated that Shen Yun not only revives traditional culture but raises awareness about ongoing human rights issues in China today.

“The people that I saw in this performance—even though they [are persecuted by] communism, they were showing that they are not upset with them. They want to win them [and] soften them with kindness,” she said.

Shen Yun “would like to heal the nation: I saw that. I would like to come again. This is my first time, but I don’t think it'll be my last.”