Financial planner Tatyana Karayeva and her daughter Anna Krivtsov had long awaited their first experience of Shen Yun. They attended a matinee in Boston on April 10.

“I heard it before many times, and it was something I wanted to do,” said Ms. Karayeva. “So finally we’ve done it! Really really nice. Enjoyed it as well.”

Ms. Krivtsov loved the women’s dances and how the costuming and props added to their display of talent.

“I’m originally from Russia. I was born there, so I can, by my heart, say that it doesn’t work,” she said. “People need freedom of expression, freedom to live their lives, so I truly think you’re doing great work. Great job! If you think you want to deliver that to the people of the whole world, that freedom is very important.”

Christian and Cheryl Gamst sell projectors. They came to celebrate Mrs. Gamst’s birthday.

Mr. Gamst said: “It’s very different than some of the shows we’ve seen in America. You see the culture and how things changed in China, from being free to moving to communism.”

“I think it’s also a warning to people because socialism and communism have been promoted by many countries,” he added. “Even in the United States, there seem to be some people who think that socialism and communism is some utopia. It’s not really. It’s a big lie; propaganda. So people need to resist that and continue to make sure that we are free, that we have free thought, and we live in free society.”

He added: “Religion has become less important to some people, and there’s a lot more people who are atheist, they say, in the United States and many other countries. They’re not believing in their religion anymore. It’s very important for people to have that faith for their future. So without that, there’s not really a lot of meaning to your life.”