HOUSTON—For the first time, Paul Koeller, vice president of investor relations at Halliburton, saw China as it once was, through New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts.
“Probably when people think of China, they don’t think about this aspect,” Mr. Koeller said of Shen Yun’s Dec. 30 performance at the Jones Hall for the Performing Arts. He said he found it interesting and artistic—a new perspective.
“There’s a lot of rich history within China,” he said. “We just don’t get an appreciation, don’t generally get an insight [into this history].” “It’s very eye-opening and enlightening to see something like this.”
Shen Yun’s program is filled with stories, from the creation legend of China to its modern history, told through classical Chinese dance and music by a Western symphony orchestra that harmonizes with ancient Chinese instruments.
“Whether set in the past or in contemporary China, every dance embodies traditional Chinese values. Ideals of loyalty, filial piety, and veneration for the divine are cherished and celebrated. Heroes are extolled for their compassion and tolerance as much as their courage or determination when facing adversity,” the Shen Yun website states.
Mr. Koeller said the effect was very relaxing and compared the art of dance to the effects of meditation. “That’s what comes through in the program. … There was a spiritual meditation through dance,” he said.
Reporting by Mary Yuan 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.
