(Minghui.org) New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts began the Houston leg of its Texas tour with three sold-out performances on September 18–19, 2021.
Shen Yun New York Company presented three sold-out performances at the Wortham Center Brown Theater in Houston, Texas, on September 18–19, 2021. The performing arts company will return to Houston with four more performances on September 25–26.
“All-around Fabulous”
Angela Hayes, former dance educator and director of a performing arts group, and her fiancé Scott Bushnell enjoyed Shen Yun at Houston's Wortham Center Brown Theater on September 18, 2021.
Angela Hayes, with nearly 30 years as a dance educator in a Texas public school and then as the director of a performing arts group, thought Shen Yun was spectacular.
“The dance is spectacular. They’re beautifully trained... Everything that they were doing was lovely,” Ms. Hayes said. “There was lovely attention to detail. [It] was just an all-around fabulous performance.”
“It’s part of their breath, it’s part of their movement, there is no disconnect... It’s lovely to watch,” she said.
“I loved the flow of the soloist to the ensemble, back and forth. The storytelling was lovely... It was very sweet and honest, and it was inspirational.
“There was a message... It inspires us to think beautiful thoughts, it inspired us to think higher. [We should go] beyond modern times and think of the beauty of the world.
“I felt the spirituality come very much through. I saw the beauty of the country, dances, and the legends. That’s what really touched my heart,” Ms. Hayes said.
“I felt like I was seeing kindred souls—because I was an artist myself. I was seeing artists on stage, I was seeing them in the moments of joy, in the moments of sadness. I just love the way they spoke to me.
“One of the messages... throughout, was to look past these modern thoughts, and to go back to the divine, and to think about what is true artistry... what beauty is in movement, what beauty is in the experience of song and [musicality],” she continued.
“I got very fascinated by the screen, the technology of the screen, and how it was integrated, then the cleverness of the way it was staged. It was very beautiful to watch and I was so impressed to see that they actually patented the technology... The live-action with the video,” she said of Shen Yun's stage-background interaction technology.
“The Best of the Best”
Rudy Revak, founder of Global Ventures Partners, saw Shen Yun in Houston, Texas, on September 19 with his wife and his friends.
Rudy Revak, the founder of Global Ventures Partners, saw Shen Yun in Houston, Texas, on September 19 with his wife and friends.
“It’s phenomenal... We enjoyed it very much,” Mr. Revak said.
“I think if you’ve never seen it before, it’s quite amazing to watch how the performers are so synchronized and so beautifully performed together,” he said.
“It’s just amazing and when they did the performance with the sleeves, and how they do all of that and keep it so organized and perfect timing-wise is just amazing.
“The stories were very excellent, and especially the fact that the two people went up to explain each one of them. I think that was outstanding.
“I’m very spiritual, I’m a Christian. And therefore, of course, I believe very strongly that there is a creator. And so to watch this show was very encouraging,” Mr. Revak continued.
“You have to come and see for yourself because it can’t be described by someone unless you see it.
“And the dancing is so phenomenal, that anyone who enjoys dancing or even doesn’t think of themselves as having a dancing background, would love to see this because it’s so well done. And anytime you see people that are so professional, and they do their talent so well. It’s always great to watch the best of the best,” he said.
“Absolutely Pristine”
Deanne Peterson, wildlife photographer, and her mother enjoyed a Shen Yun matinee together at Houston's Wortham Center Brown Theater in Texas on September 19, 2021.
Wildlife photographer Deanne Peterson and her mother attended their third Shen Yun performance together on September 19, at the Wortham Center Brown Theater in Houston, Texas. It’s become a family tradition.
“We’ve come for probably four or five years, and it’s always really wonderful to come back and to see the new choreography and the new routines and the new backdrops,” she said.
“The lines, the symmetry... It’s really, really stunning and I know that the work that goes into this is endless hours,” said Ms. Peterson, who danced in her youth.
“I have a true appreciation for the dedication and the commitment that goes into making these routines absolutely pristine,” she said.
“Take Your Breath Away”
John Terry Kulisek, retired police chief from Newburgh, New York, enjoyed Shen Yun at Houston's Wortham Center Brown Theater on September 18, 2021.
John Terry Kulisek, a retired police chief from Newburgh, New York, saw Shen Yun in Houston on September 18, 2021.
“The choreography is unbelievable... They take your breath away sometimes,” Mr. Kulisek said.
He recommends that everybody see it, particularly because Shen Yun needs to be experienced first-hand.
“It’s hard to describe,” he said. “You can never describe the colors, the dance, the choreography, the singing, and the music... They have to be here to see it.”
“It’s a shame that more people don’t get to see this... My heart goes out to the Chinese people,” Mr. Kulisek said of the fact that the performances are not allowed to be shown in the Chinese mainland due to the Chinese Communist Party’s oppression of traditional culture.
“Elegant” and “Gorgeous”
Beth and Mike Kugler enjoying Shen Yun Performing Arts at Houston’s Wortham Center Brown Theater, on September 18, 2021.
Retired director of finance Mike Kugler and his wife Beth, a former registered nurse, attended Shen Yun for a second time at the invitation of their children. Their first experience with Shen Yun was at least 5 years ago.
“The dancing was absolutely elegant. It just flows... It’s gorgeous,” Mrs. Kugler said.
Chinese classical dance has the hallmark of being extremely expressive, boasting a variety of challenging flips, turns, and gestures. The name “Shen Yun” translates roughly as “the beauty of heavenly beings dancing.”
“I think the name fits,” she said. “Beautiful.”
Mrs. Kugler was touched that the performers “are so dedicated to their history and bringing their culture back to life.
“That really gets me,” she said.
Upcoming Performances
Shen Yun continues its 2021-2022 tour with upcoming performances in Houston, Texas, September 25–26; Seattle, Washington, September 30–October 3; Indianapolis, Indiana, October 2; Portland, Maine, October 2–3; Sioux Falls, South Dakota, October 4–5; and Spokane, Washington, October 5.
For more information on tickets and dates, please visit: https://www.shenyun.com.
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