CHARLOTTE, N.C.—Kevin Rayan, systems vice president for a major bank, said Shen Yun Performing Arts was like nothing he had ever seen before.

“I think it’s amazing and it’s very creative,” said Mr. Rayan, who saw the performance with Lisa Singh, product manager in IT. The two attended Shen Yun at the Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center on April 15.

“The dancing, the storytelling—even though they’re not talking, but there’s a story behind it and you can understand what’s going on, so I feel ... that brings the story to life with their dance and the movements and their facial expressions,” Mr. Rayan said.

Ms. Singh said the performance was very interesting, beautiful, and spiritual, presenting a wide array of new things, whether they were production elements like the use of an innovative digital backdrop, or spotlighting some of China’s 50-some ethnic groups through ethnic and folk dances.

“It’s different than what we’re exposed to. It’s peaceful, it’s full of music and life,” he said. “It’s very creative and it’s very inspirational and spiritual at the same time.”

“It’s very good, very good,” said Mr. Rasmussen, a CPA. “Very entertaining, very historical.”

“It’s beautiful,” added Mrs. Rasmussen, who runs a health and wellness clinic. “I love that it’s telling a story, but it’s so beautiful, and it’s so well done with the way that they integrate the animation. It’s beautifully done. But the dancers are just extraordinary.”

“I think it’s a weaving in a story of China, how it was at one time,” she said. “It’s interesting.”

Mr. Rasmussen said he could see the artists were “very passionate about what they do,” which included reviving a traditional culture that held universal values.

Mrs. Rasmussen agreed, relating it to her own faith. “I’m a Christian and so I see the longing to reach out to God, to create,” she said.

Mr. Rasmussen said the artists were inspiring in what they were delivering to the audience.

“They want to give 110 percent. So they’re giving everything plus some,” he said.

Jeff Montminy, a senior operations manager, also felt Shen Yun was inspiring.

“I’ve been to China 40 times for work, and you don’t see what they see back in the past. So I think this is really good, kind of eye-opening to see the repression that happens behind the scenes,” Mr. Montminy said. “I think it’s really important to get that perspective. And it’s beautiful. The choreography, the dancing, the culture.”

He said he saw in Shen Yun inspiration to “live for today, hope for tomorrow, and everyone needs to get along because we’re all on this world for one reason ... to glorify God and to love each other, no hate.”