SEATTLE—For company director Mark Dohogne and his wife Marilyn, attending Shen Yun Performing Arts for the first time at the Marion Oliver McCaw Hall on April 4 was more than just a night out—it was an unforgettable experience filled with beauty, culture, and meaning.

“I think it’s beautiful, it’s very beautiful,” Mrs. Dohogne said. “The history that is behind it—I studied international studies, so learning about China before communism ... it’s absolutely stunning.”

Endowed with 5,000 years of history, China was once known as the “Land of the Divine.” For millennia, its people believed that by keeping their hearts pure and adhering to strict moral standards, they would be blessed by the divine.

He was deeply moved by the spiritual message conveyed through the lyrics of Shen Yun’s baritone.

“It was very deep in faith and hope in the human spirit. [It’s about] how other things that people proclaim as good or as acceptable today are not so good. Like atheism ruining the hope of the human heart. So, that’s a good message,” he said.

“We are of faith. We believe that there is a divine entity, [and] no matter what, it will take care of us. That’s how we teach our kids. You have to have hope because there’s something beyond us just being humans,” he added.

Mrs. Dohogne wholeheartedly agreed. She appreciated learning about China’s traditional culture and spirituality before communism, and how it contrasts with the present day.

“Atheism breaks the human heart, human hope. That’s so true,” she said.

Through original compositions and lyrics, the artists invite the listener to explore the deeper meanings of life.

Shen Yun was “exciting, vibrant colors, active, engaging, great stories. The music is great. I didn’t expect a real-life orchestra here, so that’s really great,” Mr. Dohogne said. “Everything was beyond expectations.”