FAIRFAX, Va.—Sergeant Major Chester Wilson III, an active-duty Marine stationed in Quantico, Virginia, said he was exhilarated by the athleticism and spirituality of Shen Yun Performing Arts.

“A very exhilarating event, something that more and more people should come to check out,” he said, “very eye-opening.”

“I think it’s awesome … we had a great time,” he said, “the dancers, they were very high energy, very entertaining, and worked well together.”

“When you come to events like this, you never know what you’re going to get,” said Mr. Wilson, “but the fact that [Shen Yun] was centered on an ancient custom of doing right, doing good, and that there is a higher being … the idea that there is a savior, that salvation is free … is what impressed me the most.”

“As a matter of fact, atheism … only detracts from the goodness that God has brought us,” he added.

China was once known as “The Land of the Divine” and Shen Yun presents this culture by drawing upon the Middle Kingdom’s Buddhist and Daoist philosophies. As such, the performance often includes spiritually uplifting messages, according to the company’s website.

“Every country has its own unique flavor, traditions, and customs and the more we bring those things out, the better it is for the whole world,” said Mr. Wilson.