HOUSTON—Chinese people “should be proud of your heritage,” said Carolyn Stratman, a retired school principal. She said she was so glad Shen Yun had come “here so that we could see it, and that my husband said, ‘Lets go!’”

She spoke at the Jones Hall for the Performing Arts in Houston, Dec. 29.

“I loved the women because they’re so dainty. I love the delicate moves of the women and well the men … and it’s beautiful, and it’s perfect,” said Mrs. Stratman.

The mission of Shen Yun is to revive the 5,000-year-old, divinely inspired Chinese civilization. This traditional culture was almost completely destroyed during the communist regime, particularly during the Cultural Revolution, states the Shen Yun website.

“This is the beautiful part of China: very beautiful, very beautiful,” Mrs. Stratman said.

The heart of Shen Yun is storytelling through classical Chinese and ethnic dance, orchestral music, vocal soloists, and animated backdrops.

“Chinese dance is known for its incredible flips and spins, and its gentle elegance. It is one of the most rigorous and expressive art forms in the world,” states the Shen Yun website.

Chinese people “should be very proud that the tradition is coming back, and very proud of the honesty … because a lot of the people are still arrested today [in China] for their beliefs,” Mrs. Stratman said.

Shen Yun is based in New York. Unfortunately, the company cannot yet perform in China, where such artistic freedom is not allowed.

“Very lovely, very lovely,” Mrs. Stratman said. “We’ve been really enjoying it, very much so.”

Reporting by Xiao Yu and Cat Rooney

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.