DENVER—“There was a divine being that inspired, was part of their lives, part of their experience or part of the history,” said Jim Hardin, after seeing Shen Yun Performing Arts with his wife Sharman at the Buell Theatre in Denver, Feb. 18.

Mr. Hardin, a financial executive, thought the New York-based Shen Yun was “great.” He and his wife had not realized the deep history of classical Chinese dance.

According to Shen Yun’s website, “Classical Chinese dance has helped preserve 5,000 years of Chinese culture. Built on traditional aesthetics, it was once passed down among the people, in imperial courts and through ancient plays. Over thousands of years, it was constantly refined, eventually developing into the vast and distinctly Chinese dance we know today.”

“The vibrancy of the colors and the costumes—the dance,” delighted Mr. Hardin. And “all the folk dances of all the different regions” touched his heart.

Mrs. Hardin “loved” Shen Yun. “It was very interesting,“ she said. ”Opened our eyes to something we have never had exposure to. And the dance and the athleticism is very impressive.”

She added that “the colors are vibrant. It’s a lot of energy with the colors. It’s very pretty.”

Shen Yun tours with a live orchestra “combining the spirit, beauty, and distinctiveness of Chinese music with the precision, power and grandeur of the Western symphony orchestra. The result—two great traditions producing one refreshing sound,” according to the website.

The Hardins also appreciated the orchestra. Mr. Hardin said, ”It’s very distinctive. It kind of set the tone for tonight.”

He said he would “encourage” his friends to see Shen Yun, adding: “I might bring them back—I enjoyed it very much.”

Reporting by Qian Zhang and Leigh Smith

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.