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HOUSTON—“My sister had seen this in New York; she highly recommended it,” said Mr. Vale Subramaniyam, CEO and president of Vale Connections, of Shen Yun Performing Arts in Houston at Jones Hall for Performing Art on Dec. 29. Mr. Subramaniyam attended the performance with local family, friends, and family from out of town.
Shen Yun is a revival of traditional Chinese arts, and the New York-based company combines storytelling, classical Chinese dance, an animated digital backdrop, bel-canto style solo vocalists, divinely inspired costumes, Chinese instruments and a Western orchestra, and more.
“[It’s] excellent; out of this world,” Mr. Subramaniyam said.
The audience is transported through ancient legends and heavenly scenes with Shen Yun dancers’ brilliant costuming and the vivid scenery projected onto the digital backdrop. Stories are told from every era of China’s long 5,000 years of culture and history.
“I liked the costumes,” Mr. Subramaniyam said. “The music was excellent. And the little bit of the comedic element, the comedy, that was funny too.”
Shen Yun presented stories both serious and lighthearted, such as When Shaolin Monks Protected the Emperor, which tells of the soon-to-be founder of the Tang Dynasty encountering the Shaolin monks while under attack. The mischievous monks—who had got themselves into a little bit of trouble with the abbot.
Traditional Chinese values like respect for heaven, and benevolence and justice, which are embedded in the culture, are presented through these art forms.
“We’re having a great time,” Mr. Subramaniyam said.
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. Shen Yun’s International Company will be performing in Houston through January 1. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
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