SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Texas Theatergoer Says Shen Yun Is ‘Ethereal, Surreal, Magical’

Feb 16, 2026

2/16/2026Updated: 2/16/2026

HOUSTON—Brian Narvaez, an attorney, and Rebecca Smith, a sales director, saw Shen Yun Performing Arts at CFISD Visual and Performing Arts Center on Feb. 15.

“It’s amazing. I think it’s very artistic. It’s my first time here ever seeing the show. There’s also an ethereal, surreal, magical aspect to the show. It’s been an enjoyment for me,” Ms. Smith 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’s very enlightening,” Ms. Smith said.

Shen Yun’s artists are trained in classical Chinese dance, one of the most comprehensive dance systems in the world.

“The dancers are great. They’re beautiful, colorful,” Ms. Smith said.

Ms. Smith was highly impressed with the way Shen Yun’s dancers use their costumes to enhance the beauty of the dance.

“The water sleeves, I thought that was magical,” she said.

Shen Yun’s artists are also trained in various Chinese ethnic and folk dance styles. For example, Manchurian women walked in shoes with an elevated platform in the center of the shoe.

“I really liked when the girls came out, and they were in [costume and elevated shoes] … and they danced in them. That was amazing,” Ms. Smith said.

Throughout the performance, audience members can witness the piety and spirituality that China had before the Chinese Communist Party came to power.

“Very magical in the sense of you’re bringing in God and divinity and spirituality into the dance, into the show,” Ms. Smith said.

Ms. Smith saw a side of China she hadn’t seen before. She was also surprised to learn that Shen Yun is unable to perform in China.

“[It’s] been something new for me. I didn’t know that Chinese people cannot see Shen Yun in China,” she said.

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 that was pretty cool, the way that it’s kind of interactive,” Mr. Narvaez said.

Shen Yun’s singers are trained in bel canto technique, and the digital backdrop provides a translation of the Chinese text being sung.

Ms. Smith loved the text in the tenor’s song. “It was very magical.”

Mr. Narvaez noticed Shen Yun’s live orchestra, which includes traditional Chinese instruments in a Western orchestra.

“The music is very good,” he said.

Reporting by Sonia Wu and Maria Han.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.