CINCINNATI, Ohio—The audience at the Aronoff Center for the Arts on February 16 expressed their new insights and delight in the performance of Shen Yun Performing Arts.

Shen Yun depicts stories of modern China with the persecution and suppression of China’s ancient beliefs.

Scott Killian, an engineer for Tenneco, spoke of the dance showing what is happening in China right now. “I think it’s very relevant,” Mr. Killian said. “Very sad, actually, that that still goes on. You would think that they would want to pursue and preserve the historical part of their culture, and to suppress it is actually kind of sad. So I’m glad they have the opportunity here in New York to continue it and share it with others. I think that’s pretty cool.”

Mr. Killian expressed his support on getting the word out about this persecution. “I think it’s very important, not just in China, but everywhere. That kind of culture should be preserved and shared with everybody instead of suppressed. I just think that’s sad that that happens. So, I’m glad that this message gets out. When I saw the ad for this, I knew it was something that I wanted to check out. So, I’m glad that I had the opportunity,” Mr. Killian said.

He said how Shen Yun’s production made him feel. “I had a lot of just awe and wonder over the performance. It’s just been really, really cool. The stories are cool. The dancing is cool. I really, really like the different ethnic dances that they’ve done,” he said.

Mr. Killian said, “It’s amazing. The costumes are just so beautiful, and the dancers are doing such an amazing job. It’s very nice.”

Shen Yun’s mission is to be revive the culture of traditional China with its stories and legends through dance, singing, and music before communism. Mr. Killian especially liked the dance of the water sleeves. “I liked the water dance the best with the flowing [water sleeves.] I think that was my favorite so far.”

The Shen Yun performance features a 3D backdrop that interacts with the dancers as they seem to jump and jump out of another dimension in the screen. “The animation between the dancers and the screen is so cool. I’ve never seen anything like that before. Very cool,” he said.

A live orchestra accompanies the performers on stage and has both Eastern and Western instruments, which Mr. Killian noted. “Oh, they’re doing very well. Very well. I thought it was really cool how they integrate the modern instruments with the old and the mix of the music. It’s very, very cool,” Mr. Killian said.