MINNEAPOLIS—On May 3, company president Ken Keacher and his girlfriend Jill Randall, a researcher at the University of Michigan, attended Shen Yun’s evening performance at the Orpheum Theatre.

“I think it’s great. It’s delightful to see all the colors. It’s nice seeing all the movement that’s at a high level,” Mr. Keacher praised.

“This is nice in that not only are we getting a lot of Chinese culture but Chinese history. It’s all convenient, approachable, and affordable.”

The spread of atheism quickly eradicated Chinese people’s belief in the divine. The cherished virtues and values learned from the teachings of Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism disappeared overnight.

Mr. Keacher is very grateful for the experience.

“As an observer seeing and experiencing things from our past in the present time—we live in a very fortunate time and have a lot of things accessible to us. To be able to stop and take a look at art that is moving is so interesting.”

Ms. Randall, too, loved the performance.

She was surprised and happy to see “all the energy coming from [the artists’] faces.” They were very expressive and quickly drew her into the stories.

“My takeaway point is that the performers are trying to convey something that has been lost from their culture and making sure that it is represented in [places] where we otherwise would not have the opportunity to experience it,” she added.

“I think it’s very good. [We’re] crossing the line and going back in time to one of the oldest civilizations it’s ever been,” he expressed.

“The spirituality they had brought them to be a peaceful people in many ways with a higher ideal. They’ve got to spiritual levels and ideas of who we are, why we’re here, what we should do, and where we’re going.”

The message he will bring home from the show is the importance of finding unity in the world, “finding yourself, [doing] meditation, and getting back to our spiritual existence.”