COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.— “Pretty much exactly what I was hoping for and what it’s billed as,” said Deric Rachjaibun, a physician in Broomfield, Colorado, during the Shen Yun Performing Arts concert at Pikes Peak Center for the Performing Arts on March 19.

“They’re absolutely amazing,” he said, “the best dancers I’ve ever seen—by far!”

Commenting on Shen Yun’s virtuoso vocalists who sing Chinese lyrics using the bel canto style, Mr. Rachjaibun said he was surprisingly impressed by the soprano singer.

“I didn’t know that we were going to have a singer and I’m not usually a fan of sopranos, but she was wonderful ... she really was,” he said.

“What a shame it is that mainland China doesn’t allow themselves to appreciate this part of their own culture—it’s such a wonderful part of the culture,” said Mr. Rachjaibun.

Along with myths and legends from ancient times, Shen Yun presents a story-based dance that depicts the current persecution of Falun Dafa, also called Falun Gong, a meditation and spiritual discipline based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance.

Mr. Rachjaibun had not formerly heard about the persecution and he said the suppression of Falun Dafa was “saddening” and “disheartening.”

“To think of that being persecuted, just because it’s a different philosophy than that of communism … is a real shame,” he said, “persecut[ing] people for trying to love one another and lead a peaceful, meaningful life … it’s absolutely awful.”