OTTAWA—Well-known criminal defence lawyer Lawrence Greenspon found Shen Yun Performing Arts to be a very educational experience after seeing the opening performance at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa on March 17.

“It’s been an insight into thousands of years of Chinese culture,” said Mr. Greenspon, who has been involved in many high-profile legal cases in Canada in recent years.

“It’s something that I think everybody should experience, something everybody should learn from.”

“It’s been a real education and just a real pleasure to see this,” he said.

He also commented on themes that relate to divinity in some of the dance pieces, saying they were done beautifully.

“We started in heaven, and we’ve come to earth—it’s certainly the creation, the divinity. It’s a beautiful thing, and it’s something that I think people should experience,” he said.

Despite the current situation in China, Mr. Greenspon added, the spirituality in the culture of China is still very relevant today.

“Despite the authorities taking a different view, there’s still millions of people that see the divinity, the creation, the involvement of heaven and earth, the spirituality that is very much a part of the show.”

“If you have any interest in the arts and in culture, come and see Shen Yun,” he said.

“I love the show. I love the culture. I love the colours. I love the music,” he said.

“I love the fact that when [the dancers] go into the screen, you can see [them] fly afterward—it’s seamless,” he added, referring to the patented digital backdrops used in Shen Yun that interact with the dancers on the stage.

“It’s good to see how ... people celebrate life with dance, and I’m sure it has a spiritual side too. It’s very elegant, very beautiful,” he said. “We love it.”

Margarita Sorokina, also a public servant, said Shen Yun’s performance has a “soul” that sets it apart.

“You can tell. It’s just very enjoyable,” Ms. Sorokina said. “I was touched by the performance.”