MIDLAND, Texas—On the evening of March 11, 2026, the Shen Yun North American Company performed to a sold-out audience at the Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center in Midland, Texas. Spectators described the performance as breathtaking, offering an unforgettable journey into Chinese culture and artistry.
Among the audience was business director Raymond King, who attended with his wife, Amber King, an administration professional, and their daughter, Valerie King. The family was deeply impressed by Shen Yun’s artistic mastery, the spiritual messages woven throughout the performance, and the dedication and courage of the artists.
He also highlighted the traditional values portrayed in the performance. “There’s a strong family connection and a strong spiritual connection,” he said. “There’s obviously a love for their people, a love for their country, and for the history that they have—and the love that they have for each other to actually keep this alive.”
Although much of this traditional culture has been nearly lost, he said, the performers are working tirelessly to keep it alive and share it with the world. “You have a loss there,” Mr. King said, “but you’re doing your best to keep it alive through dance and song and performance—to share it with people around the world so it doesn’t die.”
He also acknowledged the personal sacrifices involved in bringing these stories to life. “It’s wonderful,” he said. “They face persecution in their own country, but they’re willing to travel the world to do this—to perform in other countries and essentially give up their homeland in order to do it.”
Mr. King noted that such dedication comes with great personal sacrifice. “It’s a struggle through and through to be able to do these performances and to be away from your family,” he said. “I’m sure they have family still in China, so they have to worry about their safety and well-being while they’re performing. It’s wonderful that they’re doing it, but it’s also a sacrifice.”
He found the dance depicting the persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners particularly moving. “Knowing that that persecution has been there—since we’ve seen the show before we understand it—but it’s still heartbreaking to know that those things happen,” he said.
She also praised the performers’ precision and control. “The way they control their costumes, the way they control their movements—even their feet—you can’t hear them,” she said. “It’s amazing. It’s honestly just a really neat show to watch.”
Mrs. King also admired the storytelling. “The story from beginning to end is phenomenal to see,” she said. “The way they portray each section and all of the important pieces that make up this culture and the entire process—it’s really beautiful.”
Their daughter, Valerie King, praised the performers’ coordination and skill. “It’s amazing the way they bring all their skills together,” she said. “You can tell that everyone has worked on this their entire lives. This isn’t something they just picked up last week.”
