VICTORIA, Texas—Lupe Zapata, a news reporter, saw Shen Yun Performing Arts at Victoria Fine Arts Center on Feb. 18.
Mr. Zapata has lived in various big cities across the United States, but he never took the opportunity to see Shen Yun until it came to his hometown, Victoria.
“It’s finally come to my hometown—I have to see it. I was really excited to see it. I’m really glad I did, it was beautiful,” he said.
Shen Yun, based in New York, is on a mission to present “China before communism,” and revive people’s connection with 5,000 years of Chinese civilization and culture.
“It was really cool to see Chinese culture preserved in that way through dance … I think it’s important to preserve a people’s culture, and I think art and dance are a beautiful way to do it,” Mr. Zapata said.
Shen Yun’s artists are trained in classical Chinese dance, one of the most comprehensive dance systems in the world.
“You definitely felt the spirit and the emotion through the dance, through watching it, and just how passionate they were about the dance,” Mr. Zapata said.
Out of all the dances, the one that left the deepest impression told the true story of Falun Dafa practitioners following the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. Despite their goodness, they are being persecuted for their faith in present-day China.
“I think it is important to call out injustice when it’s happening, and I think this show is trying to do that in letting people know that there is a crisis happening over there right now, and letting people know about it is important. Most protests happen through art,” Mr. Zapata said.
Marina Schellenberg, Ashley Walyuchow, and Barbara Breazeale at the Shen Yun Performing Arts performance at Victoria Fine Arts Center on Feb. 18, 2026. Sonia Wu/The Epoch Times
Marina Schellenberg, Ashley Walyuchow, and Barbara Breazeale were also in the audience this evening.
“The dancers are phenomenal. I have never seen anything like that. I’ve been wanting to see that for years. I’m so happy I came,” said Ms. Schellenberg, a lawyer.
Shen Yun’s use of its digital backdrop is patented. The versatility of the technology allows the set to change scenes in the blink of an eye, giving the stage endless possibilities.
“I thought the technology was very interactive and surprising. I thought it was really good. The music and the stories were really entertaining,” said Mr. Walyuchow, a radio host.
Ms. Breazeale was pleased to see that Shen Yun offered an array of traditions as well as a few elements from the present day.
“It was this exhibition of dancing that was so amazing. And there was humor in it. There was the old, there was the new. I was really impressed. It was a history lesson as well as beautiful,” she said.
Although Shen Yun is sharing the beauty of Chinese culture with the world, Shen Yun is unable to perform in China.
“I can see why the Chinese government doesn’t want them to perform what they’re performing and to educate people as to what’s going on in China. [Shen Yun] runs counter-culture to communism because of the spirituality of it,” Ms. Schellenberg said.
Reporting by Sherry Dong, Sonia Wu, and Maria Han.
