GUADALAJARA, Mexico—In a city steeped in spirituality from the indigenous Aztec culture through Catholicism, which have shaped the people of Guadalajara for 3,000 years, Magdalena Calderón on May 3 was astonished by the spirituality of “5,000 years of Chinese culture” onstage at Shen Yun Performing Arts.

For over two hours, Ms. Calderón, a ballet costume designer and business owner, watched dozens of dancers from Shen Yun Performing Arts play the role of heroes, villains, and divine beings. The show begins with the tale of Creation and then unfolds with stories through  millenia of Chinese history, as well as ethnic dances and musical numbers.

“I found it very similar to what we Mexicans know of Catholicism—that part of the Creator, of how all people are something of gods, that there is a salvation, that there is a celestial door open for everyone,” Ms. Calderón told The Epoch Times, speaking after the performance at the Conjunto Santander de Artes Escénicas. “I liked it a lot.”

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Shen Yun tours the world with its classical Chinese dancers and full orchestra that combines Western and Chinese instruments. Their stated mission is to revive a culture that was “almost lost” during China’s devastating cultural revolution in the 1960s. Many traditions, including spirituality, were destroyed.

Ms. Calderón said her prior perception of the Chinese people was that they’re “very cold,” and she didn’t know about their spiritual beliefs until this night. “My concept changed a lot,” she said. “They transmit joy, and that changed the concept I had of Chinese culture.”

As a costume designer, Ms. Calderón was mesmerized by Shen Yun’s divinely-inspired attire. The designers behind the scenes pore through manuscripts to craft costumes in the style worn as portrayed by the ancients. “I loved the coloring, it was so joyful,” she said.

Ms. Calderón, who has taken a few dance lessons herself, also expressed appreciation for the skill of Shen Yun’s dancers. Classical Chinese dance is an ancient form that hails from thousands of years ago, when martial artists performed for lords and ladies in palaces. Passed down through the generations, many of its flipping moves have been borrowed by styles like gymnastics.

“I found it super interesting. I left very, very happy,” she said. “Very, very happy.”