NEW YORK CITY—Brothers Vladimir and Yury Rakhnayev couldn’t help but be intrigued by Shen Yun Performing Arts’ tagline of “China before communism,” having lived in Russia while it was still the communist state of the Soviet Union.

“We come from South Russia. We know what’s going on in China,” said Mr. Vladimir Rakhnayev, a business owner. “This is the best show. Just to show the people, it’s good. The best. I like it.”

“This dancing, this performance is very nice and very good for the people,” said Mr. Yury Rakhnayev, president of a private bank. “They introduce us with a Chinese culture.” The brothers saw Shen Yun on March 28 at Lincoln Center.

“I can explain to you. Do you know what is the difference between the freedom and jail? Over there like jail. Here the freedom,” Mr. Yury Rakhnayev said. “You come to here, you kiss the land. Because wherever you need, you can do it. You can survive.”

Mr. Vladimir Rakhnayev agreed, adding that the brothers attend many shows, but Shen Yun stood apart.

“We go to too many shows. This is the best,” he said.