RALEIGH, N.C.—Creative director Joy Avila was hit with a full sensory experience the moment the curtain rose on Shen Yun Performing Arts.

“I thought it was beautiful. And I mean really right off the bat, they’re clearly like put a lot of effort into really hitting you with all the senses,” said Ms. Avila, who attended the performance with Carlos Avila, dance instructor, at the Memorial Auditorium at Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts the evening of Jan. 20.

“That’s the first time I’ve seen anything like that,” she said.

“That’s the first thing I’ve seen anything like that, and kind of like getting the people involved,” he said. “Not just performance after performance after performance, but making it funny at times and different stories, music, the instrumental part. So, very interesting.”

“Chinese culture is very beautiful,” said Mr. Avila. “I knew so little, so this was very eye-opening. I really like how they tie past and present and make the audience think about what’s going on.”

Ms. Avila agreed. Audiences are frequently unaware that Shen Yun cannot be seen in China, which is still under the rule of a communist regime that has spent its reign trying to uproot traditional culture. In a story-based dance, Shen Yun gives a glimpse of modern-day China, with kind people still holding onto faith and traditional values like truth, compassion, and forbearance—even though one can face persecution for such a thing in China today.

“I want to look that up as soon as we leave afterward,” Ms. Avila explained.