MESA, Ariz.—“It was eye candy,” said graphic artist Debra Winsberg, who attended Shen Yun Performing Arts with her daughter, Tori Winsberg, at the Ikeda Theater at Mesa Arts Center in Arizona the afternoon of Feb. 17.

“The whole thing top to bottom was beautiful,” she said.

“Honestly, I am speechless,” she said. “It was just beautiful, I really didn’t know what to expect coming in, but it topped my expectations for sure!”

Shen Yun’s aim is to revive China’s 5,000-year-old traditional culture. The production says their performance demonstrates “China before communism,” and the ancient civilization that was once known as “The Land of the Divine.”

Mrs. Winsberg said she could tell that the Shen Yun dancers truly enjoy what they are doing.

With their “smiling happy faces … you can see it’s very important to them,” she said.

In addition to a live orchestra that blends traditional Chinese instruments into a classical Western orchestra, Shen Yun also boasts virtuoso vocalists who sing Chinese lyrics using the bel canto style.

“I see the divine and the divinity in everything they are doing,” he said. “It’s very spiritual … very enlightening.

“It shows the divinity of the dance and the people … I feel they are divine beings dancing,” said Mr. Crawford.

“You feel the divinity coming out and [it] helps people progress and to do good for others.”