ATLANTA—As a former TV art director for an advertising firm, Steve Newton saw the magical landscapes in the ads for Shen Yun Performing Arts and assumed they were just embellishments.

But now that Mr. Newton finally attended Shen Yun on Feb. 1, he says he was blown away by the classical Chinese dance company’s high-tech approach to theater. Those magical scenes from the ads appeared right onstage.

For Mr. Newton, watching Shen Yun at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre was a pinch-me moment; the dancers seemed to launch themselves into the backdrop, then back onto the stage through clever integration.

It “really catches you off guard when they float down and boom,” Mr. Newton said. “Just the coordination and stuff is amazing.”

Julie Bethel, who watched Shen Yun with Mr. Newton, added, “Oh, that was wild, because it was hard to tell where the digital started and where the people were real.”

Based in New York, Shen Yun has a mission to revive the 5,000 years of traditional culture of China before communism. Through dance and music, the performance showcases different dynasties, legends, and ethnicities from ancient times to the present day.

It also teaches ancient morals.

“Be kind,” Mr. Newton said, speaking of a message he took from the performance. “Just be kind and be kind to everyone around you.”

Shen Yun has toured the globe for 20 years, reviving an ancient culture that was “almost lost” under the Chinese Communist Party’s systematic destruction since it came to power, culminating in the Cultural Revolution that began in the 1960s. The company was started by Falun Gong practitioners, and it has since grown to eight equally large companies that tour the world simultaneously, performing to millions of audience members each year.

“They spread kindness,” said Viktoria Dimitriva, an operations manager for a technology company on Feb. 1. “We come back every year, because we really enjoy it.”

For over a decade, Shen Yun has performed in Atlanta, making the show a cherished annual tradition for theatergoers like Ms. Dimitriva.

“I love the whole performance in general. We came first time a few years ago,” she said, adding, “We enjoy the music. ... Every year they show something different.”

Shen Yun’s unique live orchestra blends ancient Chinese instruments—like the pipa and erhu—with a classical Western orchestra. Together with Shen Yun’s patented digital backdrop provide seamless interaction with the dancers.

“Everything’s so smooth, so you take it for granted that music is playing the whole time,” said Dennis Solari, a senior vice president for an IT company.

“They make it look very simple, but it’s very smooth,” he said. “We know it’s very hard to do.”