Shen Yun’s Message of Revival Resonates With Theatergoers in Houston
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(L-R) Nivedita Ganguly and Sid Ganguly watch Shen Yun at the Jones Hall for the Performing Arts in Houston, Texas, on Dec. 28, 2025. Sherry Dong/The Epoch Times
HOUSTON, Texas—On Sunday afternoon, a lawyer, a physician, and a pastor all made the same plan—to attend a performance of classical Chinese dance at a theater in Houston, Texas.
Physician Dr. Sid Ganguly somewhat knew what to expect from Shen Yun Performing Arts, but during the intermission at Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, he spoke to The Epoch Times, saying how Shen Yun was unlike anything he'd seen before.
“I’ve seen some ethnic dances and ethnic cultural events, but this is something unique,” Dr. Ganguly said. “Both of us, we love arts, and we are also involved in our different cultures and arts.”
Shen Yun, which is based in New York, not China, says it’s on a mission to share with the world “China before communism,” as China’s traditional culture was “almost lost” during the destructive Cultural Revolution under communism in the 1960s.
The message of a revival resonated with the physician.
“I love the idea of ... preserving the classical thing, traditional thing,” Dr. Ganguly said. “I believe it is true for every culture—that we are losing it. And I’m very proud to see that someone is trying to preserve. That’s the key thing I took from here.”
Shen Yun’s Animated Backdrop Is ‘Very Clever’
George Reardon, a lawyer who was watching Shen Yun with his wife, Ann, shared how he was impressed by the visual effects. Shen Yun’s patented 3D animated backdrop interacts seamlessly with the dancers onstage to create immersive scenes in the heavens, in ancient palaces, or even under the seas.
“That’s very clever,” Mr. Reardon said.
Unlike the aforementioned physician, however, Mr. Reardon’s expectations of Shen Yun were all mistaken, he said.
“In prior years, I thought, ‘Oh, this is a communist party [performance], I don’t want to sponsor that,’” he said. “And then I found out it’s the exact opposite.”
Not only is the show based in New York, but many of its performers are American-born Chinese or expats who fled religious persecution in China. Even segments of the performance openly display communist agents beating Falun Gong believers for their faith.
Yet, despite the scenes of persecution, Shen Yun is also famous for its breathtaking colors, live orchestra, and uplifting stories of hope and humanity.
Ann Reardon said she definitely felt uplifted.
“I think that I haven’t seen anything that had me smiling from ear to ear, like I have for this,” she told The Epoch Times.
John Bryant and Kelly Boyd enjoyed Shen Yun at the Jones Hall for the Performing Arts in Houston, Texas, on Dec. 28, 2025. Sonia Wu/ The Epoch Times
That same Sunday afternoon, John Bryant, a pastor, watched Shen Yun with his fiancé, Kelly Boyd, who bought him tickets for his birthday.
“Oh, it was delightful! It was delightful. It was an amazing conglomeration of athleticism and ballet, and it was beautiful!” he said.
While Ms. Boyd said she'd seen the show three times before buying tickets for Mr. Bryant, he had “never seen anything like it.” Ms. Boyd was also enthralled with the digital backdrop, while Mr. Bryant said he was entertained by music he seldom gets to hear.
The Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra, which tours with Shen Yun’s dancers, is a unique blend of Western and Chinese instruments that generate a sense of familiarity with American and European audience members, while introducing wondrous new sounds from the Middle Kingdom.
The pastor, however, said he saw a “great deal of similarity” between his Christian faith and the spiritual message behind Shen Yun, which calls China the “Land of the Divine.” Mr. Bryant said the opening scene, with its billowing clouds and the Creator in the heavens, resonated with him.
“I saw a great deal of similarity, a great deal of—what’s the word I’m looking for—areas where we can come together,” he said.
Reporting by Sonia Wu, Sherry Dong, and Michael Wing.
