MONTREAL—Shen Yun Performing Arts delighted the audience at the Place des Arts in the Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier on April 11.

Former Olympic Trainer and consultant Daniel Saint-Hilaire watched Shen Yun for the second time. “Last year, I was in the fourth row in front and I could see the expressions on the faces of the dancers. I was fascinated to see all the performers dancing and their gestures,” he said.

This time, Mr. Saint-Hilaire said: “Now I’m up on the mezzanine and I can see the whole show. It’s completely different. The second time is just as good, but from a higher level.”

“As an ex-Olympic trainer, I observe movement. I appreciate the quality of bodily movement. From where I sat above, I can see in more detail the gestures when the dancers move. It’s incredible how high they lift themselves,” he said.

Shen Yun uses a patented 3D animated backscreen where the performers seemingly jump in and out and fly into another realm, something Mr. Saint-Hilaire enjoyed.

“What I find fascinating is the technology on the backdrop that was projected, how the artists can enter the screen, and leave the screen and come back to the stage,” he said.

“What fascinates me is the timing. They’re, like, perfect. It means they must have practiced it thousands of times to be so perfect at it. I’m still trying to figure out how they did it. I’m like a kid looking at something new, and then, Wow, you know.”

Shen Yun’s mission is to revive China’s 5,000 years of traditional culture before communism. Today the communist regime has suppressed China’s ancient civilization. Although Shen Yun tours the whole world, it is banned in China.

“That’s good,” he said. “There are still people who can use this vehicle to get a message across to the rest of us who don’t yet know about it. And through art to be able to convey a message and interact with the public.”

The freedom of expression is being suppressed throughout the world, and Mr. Saint-Hilaire issued a warning: “It’s just as important [for everyone to exercise their free speech]. Otherwise listen: If there’s no more right of expression on this planet, we’re done for!”