SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun Brings 5,000 Years of Nearly-Lost Culture ‘Back to Life,’ Says Texas Theatergoer

Feb 16, 2025

HOUSTON—Maria and Thomas Beavers had long wanted to see Shen Yun Performing Arts, and got their chance this year at the CFISD Visual and Performing Arts Center on Feb. 15.

“I think it was a really interesting show,” said Mrs. Beavers, a vice president of human resources. She praised the orchestra for its unique and seamless blending of Chinese and classical Western instruments and music, and the dancers for their mastery of technique and dedication.

Mr. Beavers also felt the experience interesting, opening up a new world of culture while at the same time highlighting the positive commonalities between all cultures.

“I thought it was very fascinating. It really opened my eyes to a whole different part of the culture that is over in China,” he said.

“The dancing was just perfect it was wonderful. It was beautiful,” he said. “The opening story really grabbed my attention, the divine. The divine coming to earth.“Just, it resonates with all the other creation myths around the world.”

“Somewhere along the line, we all came from the same place,” he said.

Based in New York, Shen Yun is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance company. Through music and dance, Shen Yun aims to revive 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, sharing with audiences the beauty of China before communism.

Sajid Iqbal had wanted to see Shen Yun precisely because he was interested in the revival of this five-millennia-old civilization.

“The performance was extraordinary, and the good thing is that you have brought the thousands of years of civilization back to life, so that is very beautiful. I like it,” said Mr. Iqbal, who saw the performance with his wife Huma Sajid.

Mrs. Sajid, too, enjoyed the journey of 5,000 years throughout the performance.

“Step by step, the stories that they are showing are full of different energy. They are beautiful stories, and so every minute we are connected with the story, with the theme, and with the music, so we are enjoying, truly enjoying,” she said. “We are really happy to be here.”

Mr. Iqbal wanted to commend the artists on what they have accomplished.

“This culture is very beautiful, and you have revived that, you are showing this culture, which is extremely, very, very nice. You have brought alive, what the communist party tried to destroy. But what you are working on, it’s very very good. We like it.”

Reporting by Sonia Wu, Sally Sun, and Catherine Yang.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.