MODESTO, Calif.—Pharmaceutical consultant Marc Perry and his wife Kerry had heard a lot about Shen Yun Performing Arts prior to attending the company’s second performance at the Mary Stuart Rogers Theater on Jan. 8.

The couple’s expectations were high stepping into the evening show, and they were not disappointed.

Originally passed down through imperial courts and ancient plays, it has been refined over the millennia into one of the most athletic and expressive dance forms in the world.

Although the Perrys don’t speak Chinese, they had no trouble following the progression of Shen Yun’s stories. They appreciated how thoughtful the company was, ensuring that even those unfamiliar with Chinese culture could fully understand and enjoy the show.

“That was really nice, I really liked that,” Mr. Perry said.

Shen Yun was founded in 2006 by a group of elite Chinese artists who had fled the persecution of the communist party. For millennia, Chinese people were deeply spiritual, but after the Communist takeover in 1949, these beautiful traditions were lost.

“It makes me sad to think that all of this is still going on in China today. It’s just horrible,” Mrs. Perry said, referring to the story dance piece depicting the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution of the people of faith.

Ideas such as “God creating mankind and that man have fallen—that’s why we’re on earth now. We certainly need to look to the heavens to have our redemption,” Mr. Perry explained.

The couple admired the courage Shen Yun artists demonstrated in standing up for their faith, and it deeply resonated with their beliefs.

Fighting for what you believe in is very difficult in this world. Standing for your faith is very hard in today’s day and age,” Mrs. Perry said.

“I think people have kind of lost connection with who they really are—how they came here as human beings and where they’re going when they die.”

“The whole [show] is just beautiful.”