METAIRIE, La.—Nicole Dubuclet Williams, director of Sales and Marketing for the Sheraton, saw Shen Yun Performing Arts on Jan. 14 at the Jefferson Performing Arts Center.

“It’s beautiful. I’ve been wanting to see it. I’m so grateful and thankful because just to hear, see the history, the beautiful costumes. [I’m] just in awe. I’m impressed. I love it,” Ms. Dubuclet Williams said.

Shen Yun, based in New York, is on a mission to present “China before communism,” and revive people’s connection with 5,000 years of Chinese civilization and culture.

“It makes you put things in perspective and be proud to be an American and live where you can worship freely. So it is a bigger story,” she said.

Shen Yun’s artists are trained in classical Chinese dance, one of the most comprehensive dance systems in the world.

“It is my first time watching classical Chinese dance. I love the arts. So it was just nice to see this. It’s just beautiful. I love it,” said Ms. Dubuclet Williams, whose daughter is a ballet dancer.

“The technique and the style of the dance, it to me, looks like a combination of ballet, but also like martial arts. So it’s very beautiful, and I love everything about it,” she said.

Shen Yun uses classical Chinese dance to tell stories from China’s five millennia.

“They’re telling a story through their facial expressions. They’re so disciplined and they take pride in what they do,” Ms. Dubuclet Williams said.

Throughout the performance, audience members witness the power of the divine impacting the lives of people.

“I believe we are born divinely to do good, be good, and then want to help people and prosper, but I also want to be able to be a blessing to somebody. I think it’s beautiful when you see it,” she said.

“I loved the music. The music is so relaxed, it’s tranquil, and I also thought it was a treat that we had a live performance,” Ms. Dubuclet Williams said.