OKLAHOMA CITY—Don and Carla Evans knew Shen Yun Performing Arts’ backstory before seeing a performance on Feb. 22 at the OCCC Visual and Performing Arts Center Theater, and thought it only made the experience all the more touching.

“It hit home,” said Mr. Evans, a financial advisor. “It’s something very heartfelt to me.”

“Oh, that was the most phenomenal combination of athletic dance and culture and emotion that I’ve ever witnessed,” said Mrs. Evans.

“It was absolutely amazing and I’ve witnessed a lot of performances. They evoke emotion, they evoke culture. And they are so, so synchronized. I’m speechless.”

He said these values were relevant and really connected with the audience.

“I think if you can relate to the truth, the honesty, the principles of the program, that’s the way to happiness. That’s the way to enlighten. Any religion. You can take those principles and apply them to any religion out there,” she said. “The performance absolutely connects. It connects you back to the divine. ... You can apply it to Tibetan monks. You can apply it to [the] Catholic church. You can apply it to Buddhism. Any religion.”

Shen Yun was a reminder of that connection, and the hope it brings, Mrs. Evans added.

“And there are miracles. There are still miracles. In the presentation, they presented miracles that happened. And there’s still miracles that occur today. You just have to look for them,” she said.