“[I enjoyed] literally everything from start to finish. It was very well done and very well presented,” he said.

“The narration, the dancing was seamless—the way the moves were choreographed with the music—it was beautiful and very touching throughout.”

“I know a little bit about Chinese history, and it was wonderful to see a representation of Chinese history in this way,” Mr. Haag said, reflecting on Shen Yun’s mission to bring back traditional Chinese culture.

“It’s very troubling to me—I’m very disturbed about how communism has wrecked so many countries. I went to China in 1988 with my father, and it was an amazing experience, but seeing what happened a year later, the Tiananmen Square [student massacre]—was just very heartbreaking to me.”

Having received praise and acclaim since its inception in 2006, Shen Yun has quickly grown to include eight equally sized companies that tour the world simultaneously each year.

The artists are expected to visit over 200 cities this season.

“The way people of faith, I don’t care what their belief system is, to have those traditions and religions snuffed out—especially if they’re for the good of the people—[it’s terrible,]” he said.

“[These beliefs] are intended to create peace and bring people together.”