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HOUSTON—“It was exquisite, exquisite,” said Mrs. Brenda Berleth of Shen Yun Performing Arts’ opening show in Houston at the Jones Hall for the Performing Arts on Dec. 26.
Mr. Thomas Berleth and Mrs. Berleth, former directors of a number of management companies, were both struck by the synchronized dancers and detailed costumes.
“It was just absolutely incredible,” Mrs. Berleth said. “Gorgeous moves, incredible technique, just beautifully done. Spectacular.”
The New York-based company’s dancers are trained in classical Chinese dance, which has a long history paralleling the rich 5,000 years of Chinese culture. Classical Chinese dance is comprehensive in technique, but also emphasizes bearing—a term best described as “inner spirit,” according to Shen Yun’s website. “Breath, intent, personal aura, and deep emotional expression” are also emphasized, allowing the audience to connect with the stories and characters on stage.
“The thinking is very different,” Mrs. Berleth said. “For instance, the Phoenix Fairies and An Early Spring—as Texans we don’t think that way, so that was fascinating.”
Female dancers danced with skirts resembling a “start-speckled sky” in Phoenix Fairies, showing a side of Chinese mythology.
In addition to classical Chinese dance, ethnic and folk dances that represent the vastness and diversity of China are also brought on stage. In An Early Spring, the female dancers performed a northeastern folk dance, twirling and tossing brightly colored handkerchiefs.
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world with a mission to revive traditional Chinese culture. The Shen Yun International Company will be performing in Houston through Jan. 1. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
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