SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun Brings Houston a Cultural, Spiritual Connection

Dec 27, 2015
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Shen Yun Brings Houston a Cultural, Spiritual Connection
Mike Ruddock enjoyed how the music, backdrop and dance was synchronized at Shen Yun Performing Arts in Houston's Jones Hall, on Dec. 26, 2015. (Sarah Guo/Epoch Times)

HOUSTON—The China shown in Shen Yun Performing Arts is a rarely-seen glimpse into a divinely inspired culture, one that dates back 5,000 years. Yet audience members from all backgrounds remark that there are more similarities than differences, when it really comes down to it.

I find that very interesting because we are all from a higher being, so we all do have a spiritual connection regardless of where we came from in history,” said Mike Ruddock, corporate entrepreneur and project specialist at Chevron, who saw a matinee performance at the Jones Hall for the Performing Arts on Dec. 26. 

As he was sitting in the theater, watching dancers in Mongolian costume with thin, paddle-like drums in a lively dance across the lush Mongolian grasslands, he felt positive. He was seeing an “interesting cultural perspective regarding Chinese history and dances.”

It made me think about a lot of history in traditional dances in various other cultures as well too. People have lived those out and a lot of cultures have let those died so it’s nice to see that traditional dance again,“ Mr. Ruddock said. ”It’s beautiful. The music is gorgeous and uplifting and the same time very dramatic. It’s very creative. Well done.”

China is vast and ethnically diverse. In addition to classical Chinese dance, New York-based Shen Yun performs ethnic and folk dances from the 50-plus ethnic minority groups across China. This year’s program included a lively celebration of a harvest, the Mongolian dance Mr. Ruddock so enjoyed, and a khata dance in the Himalayas.

“It is a connection that I feel even with this culture. That spiritually [connection] regardless of how we may look on the outside. So that’s a good thing. It’s a beautiful thing. We should all connect that way,” Mr. Ruddock said. 

Business owners Yolanda and Rolando Velasquez connected traditional Chinese culture to their own Philippino culture in a similar way.

I think it’s the simplicity of our culture. It’s the peacefulness in our mind,” said Mrs. Velasquez. The culture is deep, she said, and close to the Philippines where she grew up. 

Daniela Gongora, an architect, felt relaxed and went into the scenes of the performance and could forgot about everything else.

“It’s so deep. It’s so deep. Doesn’t matter what kind of religion or beliefs you have, you can feel the emotion, the spirituality in that show,” Ms. Gongora said. “It doesn’t matter if you believe in god or not. You go to the same one at that time. It takes me to another level. Another realm.”

Reporting by NTD Television, Sarah Guo, 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.

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.

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