Mike Galvin, a local, said it was his second time watching the performance.
“The choreography and the pageantry is second to none,” said Mr. Galvin, a sales representative.
“I sat closer this time to the orchestra pit, and it was astounding. The sounds and the feel of the whole production really lifts one up,” he said.
Dennis Frankson, a retired missionary, said the performers were beautiful. “[They] seem just incredibly dedicated to what they do,” he said.
“The amount of dedication and work that had to go into something of this magnitude,” Mr. Frankson remarked.
“5,000 years of culture—there’s a lot to learn there. They made me a little misty today, watching them,” Mr. Henard said.
“I could feel the emotion and the energy that they were putting into each of the performances,” he said.
John Hughes, an assistant principal aviation inspector, also appreciated Shen Yun’s efforts.
“I think it’s good because you need to have your culture to know where you came from and to keep it going into the future,” Mr. Hughes said.
Based in New York, Shen Yun’s mission is to revive traditional Chinese culture through the performing arts—showing a China before communism.
“I felt very privileged,” Mr. Galvin said. “I know that they cannot perform in China to the communist regime there, so for me to be able to see traditional Chinese history was phenomenal.”
“I am really glad that, again, you guys are bringing this to everybody’s awareness because there needs to be worldwide attention on an issue like this,” said Justin Anderson, a space force engineer.
Mr. Frankson said he used to live in China as a missionary.
“I found that people had lost so much of their traditional culture,” he said. “Everything seemed very regimented, and so [Shen Yun] is beautiful to see.”
Dawn Pollock, a bioenergetics health coach, said she is fond of culture.
“That was a really nice surprise for me,” Mrs. Pollock said. “I’m really upset about how culture and oppression has been taking precedence worldwide, so I was really happy to see that that’s being presented and shared.”
With dance pieces ranging from ancient myths and legends to stories of courage, the Colorado Springs theatergoers were touched.
“With the crime story, that there’s always hope—don’t give up. There’s always a rainbow at the end of there somewhere if you keep trying,” Mr. Henard said.
Ben Pollock, a senior project designer, resonated with the stories.
“This is just a great message that we need to share with everybody in this world right now,” said Mr. Pollock, who watched the show with his wife.
“The fact that the divine and light is so important for us all to really get back in touch with what the real importance of life is, itself,” Mrs. Pollock said.
“It’s a different experience every time you come. That’s what I found out tonight. I can’t wait to go again,” he said.
