HOUSTON—For the Mitchells, coming to see Shen Yun Performing Arts on Christmas Eve was a family Christmas gift.
After watching the performance at the Jones Hall for the Performing Arts in Houston, Brad Mitchell, general manager and CEO of Quality Oil Tools, said the family thoroughly enjoyed the performance.
“Thought it was really well done, well choreographed. The music was excellent, and the costumes were very impressive,” Mr. Mitchell said.
Based in New York, Shen Yun Performing Arts features award-winning, classically trained artists. According to the company’s website, “Through the universal language of music and dance, Shen Yun weaves a wondrous tapestry of heavenly realms, ancient legends, and modern heroic tales, taking you on a journey through 5,000 years of Chinese culture.”
A Shen Yun performance features classical Chinese dance performances as well as ethnic and folk dances. A performance also features a unique orchestra blending East and West, breathtaking animated backdrops, as well as top vocalists singing Chinese lyrics in the bel canto style.
Ms. Mitchell said that through the performance she could sense universal values including compassion and “the connection between heaven and Earth.” She also said that she could also see universal values through the lyrics sung by Shen Yun’s vocalists.
Mr. Mitchell added that he thought traditional Chinese history and culture was very well presented in the performance.
“I thought it was really well choreographed into the dance and the presentation,” he said. “Especially the consistent message of the connection between heaven and Earth and people.”
While noting that expression is restricted in some places, he said that if these traditional values were celebrated everywhere, “there would be a whole lot less conflict.”
Mr. Mitchell also praised Shen Yun’s unique orchestra, which combines traditional Chinese instruments with classical Western instruments.
“I like the music a great deal,” he said.
“I thought the conductor and the orchestra were really well done, especially with the traditional Chinese instruments blended with the Western instruments. Fabulous job!”
Reporting by Lily Setoh 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.
