There are some performances that change your perception of the world. John Johnson, a product engineer who attended Shen Yun at the Jones Hall for the Performing Arts in Houston, Texas, on Dec. 26, said it was like a rebirth of life.
“You find happiness, it comes about and the rebirth of …you know, when you’re just down and out, and there’s possibility for rebirth and regrowing in something new to look forward to,” said Johnson.
At the core of Shen Yun performances is classical Chinese dance. According to its program book, Shen Yun uses dance as well as music to take audiences on a journey through China’s long and vast history.
“I loved the historical perspective on Chinese dance. I loved the little history lessons in between the different music acts,” said Angela Branch, human resources director at The Woodlands United Methodist Church. “I loved Orchestra, the dancing was just beautiful, the choreography was amazing. I thought the music was moving. I thought it was inspirational, some of it was kind of strength and power, and some of it was very soothing and meditative spiritual.”
“The take-home message was basically, we need to return to the divine values that we were born with,” said Scott Weber, a Shen Yun audience member. “And to not be corrupted by some of the bad things in the world. So the dance really brought that out with the beauty of the dance, and the balance, and the precision of the dancers. So that really seemed to bring the message in a figurative way.
“It’s very worth it and I did not realize that it’s a new show every year,” said Lora Doremus, director of Women’s Ministries at University Baptist Church. “So I think we need to start coming every year.”
NTD News, Houston, Texas
