SAN LORENZO de EL ESCORIAL, Spain—On the evening of Feb. 26, the Teatro Auditorio San Lorenzo de El Escorial in San Lorenzo, Spain, was filled with excitement and sustained applause. Shen Yun’s second local performance of the 2026 season had long been sold out, and the theater buzzed with awe and delight.

Beyond delighting the eyes and ears, the performance also touched the inner world of many viewers, among them former senior Spanish Army officer Jorge Serra Nogués.

“We were truly surprised—shocked, in a positive sense,” he said. “It is a grand spectacle, full of light and rich in culture. It completely exceeded our expectations!”

Mr. Serra, who served in artillery units and published articles in military journals, attended the performance with his wife, Ms. Pilar, a professor of Art History. Both spoke warmly of the evening.

Mr. Serra added that he had been surprised to learn that Shen Yun is based in New York, having initially assumed the company came directly from China.

Upon learning that Shen Yun cannot perform in China, Mr. Serra said he observed that the regime fears the deeper cultural and spiritual values conveyed in the performances.

He believes Chinese people should have the opportunity to see it. “It would be very meaningful for Chinese people to see how Chinese people from other places in the world proudly present their culture to the rest of the world,” he said. “All Chinese people would be proud of this.”

The couple also expressed admiration for Shen Yun’s mission to revive traditional culture, emphasizing its relevance beyond China. Mr. Serra noted that Spain faces similar challenges. “Our young people are losing part of the knowledge of their history, and this cannot be ignored. This is bad for our present and for our future.”