WASHINGTON, D.C.—Kevin Fryman saw Shen Yun Performing Arts for the first time on Feb. 22, and felt “it was all magical.” His wife, Joelle, felt the same; with a career managing performing arts organizations, she felt connected to the passion of the artists.

“The level of artistry is top-notch,” she said. “The fact that there’s something new every year that is mind-blowing considering the level that you’re at.”

“It took all of the arts and really combined it into one,” Mrs. Fryman said. “It was beautiful, we really enjoyed it.”

Among the organizations Mrs. Fryman managed were an arts conservatory with a dance program, and an orchestra, and she watched the production with a trained eye.

“I could see the level of technique was absolutely phenomenal,” she said of the dancers. “And the orchestra, the orchestra, oh my gosh. I was blown away by the different instruments and how the variety of Asian and Chinese instruments were brought in. And it just, it was really impressive.”

“That storytelling through dance is ... felt just as much as storytelling through word. And so you have dance and you have music. You don’t need the words. I mean, the storytelling was there,” Mrs. Fryman said. “They tell you everything through the artistry.”

“And there were children; we were surrounded by children and they were even enjoying it. Like it really held their attention,” she added.

“Just continue to speak to freedom of speech, of dance, of life. Continue on that mission,” she said.

“When they come back next year, I want to see another one,” Mr. Fryman said.