HOUSTON—“I thought it was fabulous,” said Ms. Candida Miller, a professional portrait painter, after seeing Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Jones Hall for Performing Arts on Dec. 27. The performance inspired a standing ovation.
“I just remember all the color,” Ms. Miller said, speaking of the artistry of the projected backdrops and hand-tailored silk costumes.
The New York-based company uses a digital backdrop projecting animated scenes where heaven and earth are one, taking the audience through 5,000 years of Chinese culture. Performers transition seamlessly from stage to screen with perfect synchronization, according to the Shen Yun website.
“Especially when the people came through, and floated off from the stage, that was very effective, I thought that was awesome,” Ms. Miller said.
Spectacular landscapes from China’s various regions, heavenly paradises, and the palaces of the many dynasties set the stage for the myths and legends told through dance, according to Shen Yun’s website.
Ms. Miller said she was was particularly struck by the female dancers’ shimmering dresses in Phoenix Fairies. It’s a Chinese belief that the mythical phoenix also takes form as heavenly maidens, and the dancers soar across a celestial setting with their “star-speckled” skirts, according to the program.
“I thought the blue costumes looked like floating irises, just gorgeous,” Ms. Miller said. The dance uses a strong, deep shade of blue.
“The costumes played in really well with the titles.”
Reporting by Sunny Chen and Catherine Yang.
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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