“We love the synchronized dancing and the synchronized movements,” Sibley said. “The colors are beautiful, and the story that they’re telling is for the history of China culture. We’re so glad that it’s being brought to us and that we can witness it. Everything about this performance shows how much rehearsal it takes in practice ... and we’re seeing nearly perfection in every performance. And every step in every performer is beautiful.”

“The colors are so vivid that they’re just unreal, and the dancers are just so skilled,” said Robinson. “The athletic ability that they have is just really wonderful.

“You have to come and see it yourself to really get the effects of it.”

A number featuring dueling restaurateurs touched Sibley. Though the chefs competed tooth and nail, they came together when disaster struck.

“I love the fact that we’re getting to see how loving and caring the people from China are,” Sibley said. “And we’re certainly sad that things have changed.”

Asked whether he had any doubts coming to attend a performance due to COVID-19, Sibley said: “The beautiful thing is that everybody is doing what they can to protect themselves. And it’s refreshing to see hundreds of beautiful, attractive, young smiling faces in each scene and each set. ... And we’re going to outgrow the pandemic and outgrow the mask, and [Shen Yun] almost gives us hope in seeing that that’s what we’re going to have in the near future—smiling faces again.”