BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—James Hodge, a pastor at the Apostolic Lighthouse Church of Oildale, and his wife Gail Hodge were delighted with Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Rabobank Theater on April 27.

“I’ve really enjoyed it,” said Mr. Hodge. “Very delightful ... the colors, the performances, the dance, just watching the beauty of the culture.”

“I think it’s fantastic. I love it,” said Mrs. Hodge.

The couple has been married for 52 years and are planning a trip to Taiwan and China in November and December. Mr. Hodge has also studied the Chinese culture and said the representation of Chinese people and traditional culture within Shen Yun touched his heart.

Shen Yun was founded in 2006 with a mission of reviving the authentic, divinely-inspired Chinese culture, which has a history of 5,000 years.

“Sophisticated dance techniques, an orchestra joining instruments from both the East and West, beautiful costumes, and a stunning back drop—this is Shen Yun at first glance,” says the Shen Yun website.

But when the audience takes a closer look at this unique performance, they discover the essence of Chinese culture. Mortals and divine beings come together on stage, while traditional heavenly principles such as benevolence, justice, and wisdom are celebrated through the ancient stories, timeless legends, and modern-day heroic tales depicted through the dance.

Instrumental and vocal soloists are also featured during a Shen Yun performance, with the soloist singers’ lyrics projected onto the backdrop behind them, as they sing songs of hope and faith for our generation.

Mr. Hodge said the singers had amazingly powerful voices, while Mrs. Hodge enjoyed reading their lyrics.

The pastor felt the entire performance was inspirational, with a universal spiritual message he could connect with.

“It’s beautiful,” he said.

“All of it is,” added Mrs. Hodge. “The colors, the background, the pictures in the background … It’s fantastic.”

Reporting by Marie Paul Baxiu and Sarah Le

New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has four touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit Shen Yun Performing Arts.

Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time. We have proudly covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.