(L to R) Ms. Connie Steinmatz, reading specialist and Ms. Betsy Schmidt, marketing business owner, attend Shen Yun, on the afternoon of Feb. 19, at the Peabody Opera House. (Valerie Avore/The Epoch Times)

ST. LOUIS—Shen Yun Performing Arts Touring Company held its audience captive on the afternoon of Feb. 19 at the Peabody Opera House.

Among those captivated were Betsy Schmidt, a marketing business owner and her friend, Connie Steinmatz, a reading specialist. Both were enchanted by the New York-based company’s presentation of ancient Chinese legends, through to modern day stories, portrayed in classical Chinese dance. The performance also showcases instrumentalists and vocalists.

“Well, I think the creativity, and use of the media and music to tell the stories has been really charming,” Mrs. Schmidt said.

Mrs. Schmidt was referring to the use of a high-tech digital backdrop that coordinates onstage action with digital action.

Shen Yun has a unique full orchestra as well, combining both Chinese instruments and traditional Western ones.

“Just the way the music is the voice of the story, and the drumming in particular, is really beautiful. Without any language, you get the whole emotion of what’s going on,” she said.

Mrs. Schmidt said she was moved when there was conflict, and when the story dances were either joyful or playful. “It really comes through the music and the drums. It’s charming,” she said.

Some of Shen Yun’s unique features, such as the costumes, hi-tech backdrop scenes and stage props, were seen by Mrs. Schmidt as “very vibrant, it’s really colorful. I think I knew that [it would be], but it was even more than I thought … It’s really neat how everything goes together to tell the story.”

Mrs. Steinmatz thought the entire performance was “fabulous! Everything … the whole thing. The colors, the music, the dancing—it’s just fabulous.”

Reporting by Valerie Avore and Raiatea Tahana-Reese.

New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. Shen Yun Touring Company will continue on to Denver for performances on Feb. 22 and 23 at The Buell Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex.

For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts.