HOUSTON—At the Shen Yun Performing Arts Dec. 30 matinee, two professional women found much to delight them. “I think something that stood out was just all the precision, and all the color, and how beautiful everyone was all together at once to make a picture and story,” said Rachel McGee, who works as an auditor. She and Kathy McGee saw the artists at Jones Hall for Performing Arts.
Graphic designer Kathy McGee said that Shen Yun’s costumes were a delight. “So majestic and so flowing,” she said, and she found the digital backdrops interesting.
“I had never seen a dance performance with that kind of backdrop. It really made it interesting. It gave it a new depth and perspective to the story,” she said, adding that the backdrop helped her understand the story and explained what was going on.
“Projected behind the dancers, the hi-tech images lift the stage and set it amidst blossoming landscapes, deep forests, Mongolian prairies, or celestial paradises,” according to Shen Yun’s website.
The surroundings and visual effects impressed her, “but the dancers themselves did such a beautiful job just with their bodies,” said Ms. Kathy McGee.
Shen Yun’s colorful costumes include hundreds of gorgeous, hand-made garments that span China’s dynasties, regions, and ethnic groups, according to its website.
Classical Chinese dance, according to Shen Yun’s website, “has a long history of thousands of years, and while soaking up profound wisdom from every era and dynasty, it has become a complete system of dance embodying traditional aesthetic principles.”
Ms. Kathy McGee said that her friends “should absolutely come and enjoy it.”
Nothing else is quite like Shen Yun. “It was a very special, unique, for me it was unique, experience that I really enjoyed,” she said.
Ms. Rachel McGee said she found the singers interesting and a way to learn more about the 5,000 year old civilization. “That couldn’t be said other than through words,” she said.
“There were many beautiful numbers,” said Ms. Kathy McGee, but she was particularly found of the Mongolian Bowl Dance.
Ms. Rachel McGee said that she was especially touched by “how everyone was so together and it just flowed.”
“We would’ve seen anyone making a mistake—and there just weren’t any. They were obviously so well rehearsed and professional—it was lovely,” said Kathy McGee.
Reporting by Yun Xia and Kelly Ni.
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. Shen Yun’s International Company will be performing in Houston through January 1. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
The Epoch Times publishes in 35 countries and in 20 languages. Subscribe to our e-newsletter.
