SYDNEY, Australia—Classical ballet teacher and principal of The Ballet School Australia, Noeleyne Rosemary Wilson, was brought to tears by Shen Yun Performing Arts on Sunday evening.

“It was so inspirational and just so uplifting. It was an incredible experience,” she said from the Sydney Lyric Theatre. “I was in tears most of the time.”

As a dancer and teacher of the art form, Ms. Wilson explained the elements she believes elevates New York-based Shen Yun performance to another level, moving people to tears with culture, stories, dance, and music.

“I can identify with dancing from the soul,” she said.

“It’s changed them incredibly already: their focus has changed, their understanding of why they do what they do.

“When they saw the dancers, it really highlighted for them the importance of reaching inwards, being a good person, being kind, being respectful; all of that just triggered even more in them,” she said.

“So when we got back to the studio, there was this focus and understanding and this joy of what they do, and wanting to share that with other people in how they perform and how they work.”

“I think that in their dedication and the way that they approach their program, in the way that they purely put so much effort and so much love into what they do, I think that comes through in everything that they present. And the stories that they’re telling on stage, everything is about that essence of being good and finding the right path in the world. I found the whole show mesmerising in that regard,” Ms. Wilson said.

“It really spoke to my heart and to my soul, and I know to my students as well. They were very, very touched, and it’s beautiful.

“It was unbelievable, I’m so grateful for the experience.”

“Oh, it’s faultless, isn’t it? World-class and incredibly inspiring to people,” she said after the performance.

“I didn’t know that was part of this show. I thought it was just dance, so I’ve been really, really enthralled with the storytelling aspect and the humour.

“It’s got a really light touch, feels almost effortless, yet I can totally appreciate the years and years of dedication that has gone into making this the masterclass that it is,” she said.

Ms. Naylor added, “I really, really appreciate the spiritual part of the storytelling… [there’s] just so much we don’t know about China and its history.

“This beautiful storytelling [is] an education through this ancient modality of dance. This is the best schooling that I can be offering in terms of history and art fused together,” she said.