HOUSTON—On Boxing Day evening, a company of young Asian dancers filed out of several buses into Jones Hall for the Performing Arts in Houston, the oil capital of Texas. For two hours, the dancers of Shen Yun dazzled with flowing costumes, extravagant culture, and special effects.
The performances made an impression on audience members, such as Mel Hainey, who was also taken aback by Shen Yun’s patented animated digital backdrop.
“I had read in the program about the special effects with the screen and all,“ said Mr. Hainey, an engineer in Houston’s oil industry. ”I didn’t quite understand what it was going to be like, but then [when I saw it] it was truly amazing.”
Like other theatergoers, he also alluded to the performance’s theme of “China before communism.” He said he supported Shen Yun’s efforts to expose issues occurring inside modern China, including the persecution of people of faith, such as Falun Gong practitioners, by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
“I’m certainly 100 percent on the side of the spirit of Shen Yun,“ said Mr. Hainey. ”When you get to be my age, you have a pretty good idea of what works and what doesn’t work. And so what Shen Yun is doing is a good thing. It will work and lead to good things.”
Then he added, “Communism and whatnot will be a disaster.”
Mel Hainey enjoyed Shen Yun in Houston, Texas, on Dec. 26, 2026. Sherry Dong/The Epoch Times
Based in New York State, Shen Yun’s members are mainly Chinese-Americans or those who have left China due to religious persecution.
On its website, Shen Yun states its mission is: “to revive traditional Chinese culture, the same heritage of five millennia that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has spent a century trying to destroy.”
China’s Cultural Revolution, from 1966 to 1976, especially eradicated many traditional aspects of Chinese culture.
Another audience member, Clay Griffin, an enterprise product manager, also commented on the performance’s portrayal of what is occurring inside today’s China.
“It’s good to see Shen Yun is telling a story that’s still happening today,” he said and then added, “Hopefully one day the Communist Party will go away.”
Mr. Griffin added that he liked how Shen Yun’s orchestra combines classical Chinese instruments with Western orchestral instruments such as woodwinds.
What really struck him, though, were the stories rooted in traditional Chinese culture, such as the one featuring the Monkey King from the Chinese classic “Journey to the West.”
Mr. Griffin was also impressed by the digital backdrop, which he said was both amazing and unique.
He said he would absolutely recommend Shen Yun to others.
“Come see it ... great performers, great music, good time, enlightening,” he said.
Reporting by Sonia Wu, Sherry Dong, and Michael Wing.
