KNOXVILLE, Tenn.—The audience at the second and final 2014 Shen Yun performance in Knoxville was intensely expressive. Applause swelled during dances, and people cheered multiple times both for the singers and dancers and during the standing ovation at the end.

One gentleman brought his granddaughter. “So far very good, I enjoyed it, said Tom Aiello at intermission. “I took my granddaughter with me to enjoy. She is 11 years old and she is enjoying it very much.”

Mr. Aiello is a retired vice president from an import-export company, and he traveled often to Asia on business while based in New York. He said of the dances, “Several of the performances were very spiritual—very nice. Quite warming.

He elaborated on what warmed his heart by describing “the sincerity of [it], I don’t know, what do I tell you? The performances, I think, the actual live stage along with the video [backdrop] is very impressive, especially when you see them going up to heaven, you know.”

Shen Yun uses a projected digital backdrop to create what it calls heavenly scenes. According to its website, “Shen Yun’s projection depicts these heavenly paradises in all their splendor. Seated atop a lotus flower, Buddha communicates through sacred hand gestures.”

Mr. Aiello also enjoyed the dancer’s skills: “The choreography, ... people on time doing their routines very well.”

Reporting by Teresa You and Mary Silver

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

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