CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.—Legends and stories from ancient times in China to the present day came alive on the stage at the Tivoli Theatre on Tuesday evening as Shen Yun Performing Arts, the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company, graced the stage for a single performance in Chattanooga.

“I think it’s spectacular. The costuming, and the classical Chinese [dance] is very interesting, and very beautiful,” remarked Dr. Jeff Ray Clark, a professor of economics and the Probasco Chair of Free Enterprise at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga.

The dance performances, combined with the live music performed by the Shen Yun Orchestra, and other features such as the colorful costumes and animated backdrops, make for one stunning performance, and bring forward “a lot of emotion,” Dr. Clark said.

“Because of the staging and the beauty of the costumes and the interplay with the music, it evokes a lot of emotion, a lot of spectacle, a lot of warmth, a lot of storytelling—it’s quite enjoyable.”

‘Elegance of the dance’

Steve Keown, an accountant, said he enjoyed Shen Yun tremendously.

“The costumes were very nice. I like the elegance of the dance,” Mr. Keown said, adding that he enjoyed learning about the history of China through the performance.

Father and daughter Heath and Makayla Perez were mesmerized by Shen Yun.

“We love it, it’s really neat. Never seen anything like it before,” said Dr. Perez, a physical therapist.

He also admired the skill of Shen Yun dancers, who perform the demanding flips and turns of classical Chinese dance with seamless effort.

What impressed him the most, Dr. Perez said, was the “athleticism and grace combined … the power that they’re able to explode off the stage.”

Jeff Laughrey, a senior software systems consultant, appreciated the chance to see a classical Chinese dance and music performance.

“I enjoy the leaps and the tumbling and spinning and things of that nature,” he said, referring to the unique movements in classical Chinese dance, an ancient art form perfected over the centuries in China.

Mr. Laughrey added that his daughter, who dances, enjoyed Shen Yun as well.

“[We] enjoy the dancing and the music.”

Reporting by Sally Sun and Roland Ree

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

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