Mayor of Tomball, Texas, Lori Quinn said, “This is my seventh time to see Shen Yun. The first time I saw it in Houston, I fell in love with the story and the pageantry and the beauty of this performance. It’s very exciting but it’s peaceful. So yes, this is my seventh time.
The mayor said she recommends people to see Shen Yun every year, as, “It’s a lovely afternoon, and you leave feeling so much better.”
“The costumes and the performers—I don’t see how their bodies do that. It is the training that they do, and the music and the instruments, and it’s beautiful the way that it’s been put together,” she said.
William Schulz, a political science professor, said, “You have never seen anything like this before, no matter how many shows you’ve seen. And I’ve been to London, Paris, Broadway—you’ve never seen anything like this before.”
James Clinebell, an attorney, said Shen Yun was “very impressive.”
“The physical dancing by the performers; very, very good. A lot of the flipping and the spinning, and they’re doing it with a smile on their face. They don’t stumble. They keep their balance. It’s very, just very impressive.”
“I wish that the freedoms that China used to have, in order to worship and be together, [will return]. China’s a great country. Beautiful people,” Mayor Quinn said.
Mr. Schulz said, “My mother’s family were of Chinese origin. I’m actually a quarter Chinese, and unfortunately, I was not raised amongst the Chinese community. So trying to connect with my roots is very important to me, and I love the story that it tells about classical Chinese history and mythology, and who we are as a people and what we believe.”
Mr. Clinebell said, “To learn about the history of China, because before communism, there was a lot that I don’t think a lot of Americans know about, and so it was nice to see that and learn about it, about the persecution, the fight to correct the wrongs, and the fight to stand up to tyranny and address the wrongs that have happened.”
Mr. Schulz added, “Bringing back the traditional Chinese beliefs, traditional Chinese medicine, spirituality, exercise, dance, culture, music; it’s crucial for China’s future. It’s very sad, the struggles that those who believe in Falun Gong have had to go through. Hopefully, one day, China will be free.”
Shen Yun is accompanied by a live orchestra, which features a unique blend of classical Western and Eastern instruments. Each year, Shen Yun brings a different performance, with all-new dances, music, and backdrops.
Mitch Jacobs, a musician, said, “It was just top notch, first-rate musicianship. The orchestra in the pit just really enhanced the performance. All the dancing and the singers were special. The soprano and the baritone both were excellent. The soprano was just soaring, hitting every note. I hear pitch, because I sing too, and I could never hear her get off. Neither singer did. They were always right on pitch.”
Mayor Quinn said, “The orchestra and the instruments are able to recreate danger, happiness, peace, and enlightenment with what they have. And it’s amazing, the talent that is in the orchestra. And that’s why and how the dancers perfectly time every step—they do hard work. I can imagine the hours of practice that it takes. But keep doing it because it really does pay off with the audience. We really appreciate it. Thank you.”
