WASHINGTON, D.C.—John and Diedra Fraser thought the 5,000 years of Chinese civilization Shen Yun Performing Arts brought to life on stage told a story that came full circle and inspired the couple on Feb. 28.

“It was absolutely beautiful. It was remarkable,” said Mr. Fraser, a retired military officer. “It was remarkably touching, actually, as far as the beginning of it and the end of it, the way it wrapped up, the way it comes full circle is very well done and it was just immersive. I mean, it pulled us into the story and there’s a lot of hope there.”

The program spanned five millennia, beginning with the Creator calling on divine beings to descend to the human world with him to establish the beginning of Chinese civilization, up to the present day, and Mr. Fraser felt it inspiring.

“I think the storyline is really insightful, that we are divinely created beings,” Mr. Fraser said.

“We have a connection to the divine and God brings us into this world for a purpose. We’re different from animals. We’re different from everything around us, and it’s obvious to every culture that has a tradition of this, and so there’s a truth to that, that kind of speaks out in our hearts.”

Mrs. Fraser agreed, adding that “there’s a truth in it that unites us.”

“We are called to be kind,” she said.

“To be kind and to live out the virtues which the divine instills in us,” Mr. Fraser added. “That was absolutely beautiful.”

“It was full of beauty, and divinity brings beauty and helps us return to the divine,” Mrs. Fraser said.

“Awe-inspiring, just amazing, overwhelming,” she said. “I love the posture, the smiles, the flow, the romance, the kindness, the love, and the excellence, so much excellence. Just the excellence in the athleticism of the dancers, and the grace of the movements, the flow, the choreography, the music, it was all excellent.”

Mr. Fraser said he would be recommending the performance to his children and siblings, keeping an eye out for tour dates they may be able to attend.

“I’m going to make sure that everybody that I love knows about this and hopefully has the opportunity to experience it themselves,” he said. “I hope they come back year after year.”

Mr. Fraser said he felt Shen Yun’s mission to revive the Chinese culture from before communism was an important one.

“I would love to see a revival of this culture in China and for it to be appreciated in lots of other worlds,” Mrs. Fraser said. She felt the China she saw on stage that night was full of “beauty, kindness, and hope.”

“Dignity,” Mr. Fraser added.

“Dignity, yes, exactly,” Mrs. Fraser agreed, “excellence, and respect.”