“I didn’t expect this. It’s extraordinarily beautiful, it’s powerful, really, as a show,” said Ms. Côté, who also teaches theater.

Ms. Côté said she had expected dance but“didn’t expect all this richness of different numbers as the show went on.”

Ms. Côté listed all of these as aspects that added to the richness and diversity of her theatrical experience that night.

“I will speak for myself, I love to know more about new cultures. Sometimes we think we know a lot, and we are often surprised by what we hear,” she said. “Definitely go. There’s no other option. You have to go see this show, it’s a must-see.”

“It allows us to take our minds off things and be wrapped in warmth around us for a little while,” she said. “It’s an energy that is transmitted, and then we feel it during the whole show. It’s heartwarming, and I think it’s really good to go see this kind of show.”

Ms. Boulanger wanted to recommend those who have seen Shen Yun already to attend again as well: “I heard that they repeat the show every year, so nothing prevents someone who has seen it from coming back, since it’s renewed every year. So don’t miss it.”

“It’s the fascination of seeing a culture such as China and understanding the history and evolution of China through a show, through songs, through dance,” she said. “It’s also to make us live the eras they went through, so it’s to better understand their history and everything in a show. It was fantastic.”

“You understand through the dance what is going on,” she said.

“The first impression was the immersion effect,” he said. “There was magic.”

“Every story that was told I think was well understood by the audience,” he said. He praised the synchronization of the dancers with the backdrop plot points, while adding that he didn’t want to give away too many spoilers.

Ms. Sassi was also impressed by the backdrop designs.

“The fact that the characters went into the screen—that’s what really took me by surprise,” she said.

“The talent of the dancers was phenomenal. I mean it was masterful to see them go,” she said. “To see that the culture, the colors, the emotions, the theatrical aspect was really put forward, ... I was really impressed by all this.”

“It’s really worth it to come and see the show,” she said.