HOUSTON—The high energy and dynamism of Shen Yun Performing Arts impressed Mr. Ken Kral, senior vice president of a bank, when he saw it with his family at the Jones Hall for the Performing Arts in Houston, Dec. 28.

“The energy from the dance routines, I’ve never experienced anything like that before,” Mr. Kral said.

Mr. Kral admired the range of traditional Chinese dance he saw, including classical Chinese dance and ethnic and folk dances from the many minority groups of China. China includes over 50 ethnic groups, and every year, Shen Yun’s all-new performances include dances such as the Mongolian chopsticks dance or the dance of the Yi people.

“Just fantastic,” Mr. Kral said. “The energy, a very dynamic presentation from the color, from the movement, from the music.”

“It’s a very impressive performance,” he said.

Based in New York, Shen Yun has been touring the world for eight years, reviving 5,000 years of a divinely inspired culture through the performing arts.

“It’s very engaging and I'd like to see more,” Mr. Kral said.

‘Very Illuminating’

Ms. Nancy Daly, also in the audience, said the performance had been “very illuminating.”

“How ancient it is, and how many different ethnic groups live in China,” Ms. Daly said. “I’m learning a great deal about China and its wonderful culture.”

Ms. Daly was drawn in by the unique movements in the classical Chinese dance she saw. “They glide,” she said. “Very graceful and agile ... the way the dancers move their arms is very striking.”

‘Really Amazing’

Mr. Ziad Taha talks about his Shen Yun Performing Arts experience at the Jones Hall for the Performing Arts in Houston, Dec. 28. (Courtesy of NTD Television)

Also in the audience was Mr. Ziad Taha, in the media business, who attended the performance with his family.

“It was really amazing,” Mr. Taha said. “The music, the background effect, the dance moves—every single move that they have made fit perfectly.”

Originally from Palestine, Mr. Taha said he was excited to see a piece from the Chinese epic Journey to the West, where the group of characters traveled to a kingdom similar to his own culture.

Mr. Taha,was shocked that the traditional Chinese culture he saw and found relatable was not in China today. Under the current regime in China, the traditional values and arts were suppressed and once almost destroyed. Mr. Taha said he hoped it was something that could be solved, because the spiritual aspects he saw were “good for the body and the mind.

‘A good experience’

The traditional culture was new for Mary Jane Brewster as well, though she had just moved to Houston with her husband after living in China.

“I had no idea about the Chinese culture,” Mrs. Brewster said. “I enjoyed seeing that ... It’s just been a good experience being here.”

Mrs. Brewster said she saw a deeply spiritual part of the Chinese culture she didn’t know was there, and was reminded of her good friends from China.

“If you take the governments out of it, the Chinese people and the American people ... people want the same things out of life, share the same ideas, the same morals,” Mrs. Brewster said.

Mr. Sam Jenkin, who used to work for the tourism office for the government of Mexico, was heartened to see Shen Yun bringing the culture around the world. “I was very delighted.”

“It carried me to another world ... it brings me the pleasure of knowing China,” Mr. Jenkin said after seeing the performance with his wife.

“It’s something that leaves me full of happiness,” Mrs. Jenkin said. “I love it, I love it.”

Reporting by NTD Television and Catherine Yang

New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has four touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit Shen Yun Performing Arts.

The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time. We have proudly covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.