For well over a decade, the New York-based dance company Shen Yun Performing Arts has performed each year in Dallas, Texas, while its dancers—with their passion to revive a culture that was “almost lost”—are becoming something of a tradition for local theatergoers.

On Jan. 18, Sully Wozniak, a high school junior, saw Shen Yun with his family as the Monkey King, an ancient Chinese superhero, seemed to fly through mythical landscapes onstage at the Eisemann Center. Then, aided by Shen Yun’s special effects, the famed creature magically shape-shifted into a tiger.

Speaking to The Epoch Times at the theater after the performance, Sully said he loved “all the dancers in their colored outfits and the monkeys too.”

Sully’s dad, Chris Wozniak, a business owner, shared how Shen Yun is becoming a family tradition.

“It’s our second time,” Mr. Wozniak said.

He also said he recognized an underlying theme in Shen Yun. In between segments of ancient tales were scenes set in the present day. Shen Yun portrays religious persecution in China today, where spiritual believers are persecuted. As a result, Shen Yun is unable to perform in China.

“I believe in what they believe in,” Mr. Wozniak said. “I think [Shen Yun’s] opposition to communism—I agree with the sentiment.”

Lavender Nix and her family also attended the Jan. 18 performance. Tickets to Shen Yun were a Christmas gift for her, and it was their third time, she said, adding that their daughter, Evelyn, “just loves it.”

Mrs. Nix said, “I like the orchestra, the music.”

The Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra blends a classical Western orchestra with traditional Chinese instruments, including the pipa, erhu, and gong.

While Mrs. Nix’s husband, Zack, an engineer, paid attention to Shen Yun’s zestful Mongolian dance segment, he said Shen Yun’s spiritual message made an impression.

“Religious freedoms in China are very different than they are in the United States,” he said. “The continued oppression of religious beliefs in China and how Shen Yun highlights that through an artistic form is—we enjoy that.”

Watching Shen Yun strive to revive traditional Chinese values through ancient myths impressed Danielle Alfano, who works in insurance, and who saw the same show with her family.

One dance piece in particular resonated with her: “You Reap What You Sow.”

“I really liked that,” she said. “I think when you are good to other people, good things come back to you. And when you’re bad to other people, bad things come back to you.”

She said she left with an impression of how similar old China was to what she believes now, and how beautiful the culture was.

Although this was the family’s first visit to a Shen Yun performance, Ms. Alfano says she would “encourage anybody who has the opportunity to come and see because I think it will really change your impression of China.”