HOUSTON—Experiencing Shen Yun for the first time, Kyle and Debbie MacDonnell were thoroughly impressed with the pageantry of the entire performance.

“We’ve enjoyed it a lot. The pageantry, the talent, it’s incredible,” said Mr. MacDonnell, a retired business owner in real estate, after seeing the performance at the Jones Hall for the Performing Arts on Jan. 27.

Shen Yun’s digital backdrop is patented. The versatility of technology allows the set to change scenes in the blink of an eye, giving the stage endless possibilities.

“I didn’t know what to expect, but I enjoyed the transition from the stage to the backdrop. I thought it was very well done,” said Mr. MacDonnell.

Shen Yun’s artists are trained in classical Chinese dance, one of the most comprehensive and athletic dance systems in the world.  Based in New York, Shen Yun is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance company.

“They’re just great. I kept thinking that you don’t even see them breathing hard ...  It’s incredible,” said Mrs. MacDonnell, a retired school teacher and a previous business owner.

Shen Yun draws from ancient Chinese history, literature, myth, and legend as inspiration when designing each season’s program.

“I saw that reference to heaven and divinity. I saw that in the show,” said Mr. MacDonnell.

The couple also shared that they would recommend Shen Yun and that they would definitely be back for more.

“It’s a big production,” said Mr. MacDonnell.