ORLANDO, Fla.—Graphic designer Mo Borbon had been hoping to see Shen Yun Performing Arts for years. On May 10, he surprised his mother, Martha, with tickets for an evening show at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts as a Mother’s Day present.

He especially enjoyed the comedic story dance depicting the Chinese classical legend of Ji Gong, a monk with supernatural abilities who offered help to people in need.

“I thought it was the funniest when [the monk] was trying to blow the [antagonist] woman away, but she kept multiplying over and over.” For him, the takeaway from that program was to “be a nice person.”

Mr. Borbon said Shen Yun’s mission to bring back traditional culture is important and great idea, especially after watching the modern-day dance raising awareness about the ongoing human rights violations in China.

“Communism has changed the country for the worse. I think it’s great to keep the original culture alive and [not] let it be suppressed and buried. It’s great that they’re keeping it alive and sharing it with the new generations. I love it,” he commented.

An artist himself, Mr. Borbon thought Shen Yun’s use of colors was “super beautiful.”

“The yellows and the pinks—everything was so bright and colorful. When the curtain goes up, you’re just like, ‘Wow.’ The background was so nice with all the landscapes and the effects of people flying through space. That was really nice,” he expressed.

“Mix with the music all together, it’s just beautiful. I’d watch it again. I hear it’s different every year, so I’d watch it every year now,” Mr. Borbon stated.

“When you sit there, and you listen and pay attention, you see the movement with the music—you just know there’s something out there bigger than us. He’s the Creator of everything.”

“[My mother] really liked the lyrics of the songs. She felt the love and salvation from the Lord who created us all. He wants us to come to Him, be with him, and enjoy the beauty of music, dance, and togetherness.”