DALLAS—Timothy Lavoy, an emergency medicine physician, saw Shen Yun Performing Arts on Feb. 11 at the Eisemann Center.

“I’ve always liked Asian cultures. So I think that [Shen Yun] was a way that, as Americans—without going to China—we could get an experience of what it’s like in Chinese culture. I was very impressed,” Mr. Lavoy said.

As a doctor, Mr. Lavoy works long hours, but he didn’t regret taking time to see Shen Yun.

“Something called me and said, ‘You need to go.’ Because I worked a long shift, and I have to work early tomorrow morning. But I still came, and I drove almost an hour and a half, two hours to come here. ... I'd [come] again. I’m serious. I would go to this again—so impressed,” he said.

Shen Yun, based in New York, is on a mission to present “China before communism” and revive people’s connection with 5,000 years of Chinese civilization and culture.

Its artists are trained in classical Chinese dance, one of the most comprehensive dance systems in the world.

“The dancers were so in sync with each other that there was never a hesitation about what they needed to do,” Mr. Lavoy said.

Shen Yun uses classical Chinese dance to tell stories from China’s five millennia. Its dance stories also portray the modern true story of Falun Dafa practitioners being persecuted for their faith in China. Falun Dafa is a peaceful practice that teaches the principles Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.

“What they’re showing is the hardships that people are going through, not only in the past, but in China now. That the common person struggles where the government doesn’t support them,” Mr. Lavoy said.

Comparing the present Chinese regime to the sage emperors in each dynasty, Mr. Lavoy saw the benevolence of the emperor Kangxi in the dance story, “Emperor Kangxi and His Secret Mission.”

“He gave food to the people of his country. He wanted also to defend the people,” Mr. Lavoy said.

“A person [in] power needs to take care of his people. God gives us the chance to do things in life,” he added.

Shen Yun’s use of its digital backdrop is patented. The versatility of the technology allows the set to change scenes in the blink of an eye, giving the stage endless possibilities.

“What I was really impressed with is the animation in the background. I don’t know how [Shen Yun] did the animation in the background to make it like they’re coming out of the sky,” Mr. Lavoy said.