HOUSTON—Omar Rachid said Shen Yun intrigued him and made him want to learn more about Chinese arts. He saw the opening night of Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company on Dec. 26, and he said: “It is thousands of years in the making and it’s nice to see it come back and learn about it. And it really enriches people in a different way.”
Mr. Rachid owns his own company, which recruits doctors in central Texas.
He noted the feelings the dancers conveyed as they revive 5,000 years of civilization, according to the mission of Shen Yun. “They take a tremendous amount of pride in representing their own culture and being part of it. This is something really nice. I can see it in their faces. They are happy to be part of it,” he said.
Classical Chinese dance has a history of thousands of years, passed down continuously within the imperial palace and ancient Chinese theater and opera, according to the Shen Yun website. Mr. Rachid was pleased by the cultural richness, he said.
“It’s very delightful. It’s really very enriching and gives us a window into the Chinese culture and Chinese history. It’s really, really well done. So far we’ve enjoyed every minute of it,” he said.
To him, seeing the performance was a rare opportunity to learn more about Chinese arts. “The art brings people together,” he said.
Reporting by NTD Television and Mary Silver.
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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