PHILADELPHIA—Mark and Daneka Cairnie attended Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Miller Theater on April 12.

Mr. Cairnie, who has traveled both to China and South Korea, said he enjoyed the performance. “It reminds me a lot of the dance that I saw in the theaters there as well.”

Mrs. Cairnie said she loved the feminine quality of the dancers. “I love the beauty of the costumes. I love the peacefulness. I love the heroic adventure that we see.” But she said the piece about organ harvesting “cut me to the core. It’s awful, and it’s sad for this country how we are not—why we’re not doing more to help shut this down.”

After the story-dance set in today’s China, she said, “I felt very awkward clapping. We shouldn’t have been clapping even though it was an extraordinary performance. I wonder how many people here realize how true that is.”

Based in New York, Shen Yun was founded in 2006 by leading Chinese artists and quickly became the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company. Shen Yun’s mission is to revive traditional Chinese culture.

Mr. Cairnie said, “Glad we could support it.” Both said they would tell their children about Shen Yun.

Seeing a performance of such beauty and tradition moved Mr. Cairnie. “We’re in a world devoid of real beauty. I love that this is going around, and showing us the beauty of what it used to be, whether it’s this culture or any culture. I love it. It’s gorgeous.”

“That’s what I love about this, where they’re interjecting that ugly truth and educating everyone. It is amazing to me. There are so many people brainwashed into thinking that it’s okay, that communism might be a better alternative,” he said.

“I love that this show, this performance, is bringing to life the truth ... and people have to be educated about that. ... I love the fact that it’s getting exposed. It’s a shame that the other media in this country is not picking up on it. We need to show this [to the world].”

Mrs. Cairnie said she tells people about Shen Yun. “I’ve shared it with anyone and everyone I can, so I hope that more people will come and see this and spread the word. We’re so appreciative of them because we know a lot of them are making a lot of personal sacrifices to be here.”

The beauty and tradition of the performance were the biggest takeaways for the Cairnies.

“It’s just the sheer beauty and ...the rich tradition,” said Mrs. Cairnie.

Mrs. Cairnie said she wants to learn more about China’s history.“In the United States, my kids have said it many times, even though I’ve homeschooled them ... we get a lot of what they call ’very boring' American history, and this just brings to light this incredible history.”

“Personally, I want to go home and read more about it. These tales of heroism, I mean, I think it’s so fascinating, and it’s something we just don’t get very much of here,” she said.