Texas political heavyweights sent greeting letters and commendations to Shen Yun Performing Arts, extending a heartfelt welcome and an appreciation for the opportunity for local residents to experience the divine culture of ancient China.
On Dec. 22, 2015, with hundreds of beautifully handcrafted costumes and a whole new program of legends and heroic tales, Shen Yun Performing Arts arrived in Houston’s Jesse H. Jones Hall for the premiere of its 2016 World Tour.
The performances feature classical Chinese dance, Chinese folk and ethnic dance, bel canto singing, a full symphony orchestra featuring Western and Chinese instruments, and a digital backdrop that transports the audience through time and space. During the 2016 tour Shen Yun’s four companies will perform in over 100 cities in the Americas, Europe, East Asia, and Oceania.
John Cornyn, senior United States Senator from Texas, sent greetings to celebrate Shen Yun Performance Days. Mr. Cornyn commended the efforts to bring Shen Yun to Texas, and said “Gatherings like this celebrate the diversity of North Texas and highlight the abundance of cultural heritage that makes our state great.”
Eddie Bernice Johnson, U.S. representative (TX-30), expressed appreciation to Shen Yun for presenting traditional Chinese cultural heritage, and producing an art that “offers audiences of all ages a rare experience of beauty.”
With a collection of world-class artists, Shen Yun is able to boast “the world’s only full orchestra that embraces both Western and Chinese instruments as its permanent members.” Ms.Bernice writes.
She also admires Shen Yun for its “colorful and exhilarating” performance, “the choreography ranges from grand imperial processions to legions of thunderous drums, with gorgeously costumed dancers moving in stunning synchronized patterns.”
Ms. Bernice writes, “spectacular visuals take you to another world, with blossoming landscapes and celestial palaces appearing on state-of-the-art animated backdrops.”
Pete Sessions, Chairman of the House Rules Committee, thanks Shen Yun’s performers, who provide “a wonderful platform to exhibit traditional Chinese culture,” and wishes the best as Shen Yun performs “at the AT & T Performing Arts Center-Winspear Opera House in Dallas and the Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth.”
Marc Veasey, U.S. Representative for Texas’s 33rd district, thanks Shen Yun, saying it “not only entertains, but also educates and enriches its audiences by representing the cultural heritage of traditional China,” and “seeks to produce an art that is not only rich and relevant but also one that inspires themes of kindness, compassion, and courage.”
Earlier, presidential candidate and junior Senator from Texas Ted Cruz sent a letter welcoming Shen Yun to Texas.
Over ten Texan officials have commended Dec. 22, 2015 to Jan. 2, 2016 as Shen Yun Performing Arts Days. Also, the cities of Dallas and Forth Worth have respectively commended early January (Jan. 1-10, 2016) and mid March (March 4,15, 2016) as Shen Yun Performing Arts Days.
