HOUSTON, Texas—Virginia and Merritt Chastain have been to China several times and seen large-scale performances there, but nothing like Shen Yun Performing Arts.

“This one, of course, was different—so unique,” Ms. Chastain, a homemaker, said after seeing Shen Yun at Jones Hall for the Performing Arts on Dec. 29.

The couple live in Louisiana but came to Houston especially to see Shen Yun after spotting a poster for the show during a previous visit.

“We enjoyed it very much. I’m glad that they’re telling the true story of China today,” Ms. Chastain said.

Shen Yun is based in New York, but its four companies perform in cities around the globe every year. However, due to repression by the Chinese Communist Party, Shen Yun cannot perform in mainland China.

Some of the dances in Shen Yun depict stories of courage and faith in the face of brutal treatment by authorities in contemporary China.

The mission of Shen Yun is to revive traditional Chinese culture through the performing arts. The group uses classical Chinese dance to tell stories from classic literature and ancient myths that embody traditional values like loyalty, compassion, and respect for the divine.

Shen Yun also performs ethnic and folk dances from among China’s distinctive ethnic minority groups.

Ms. Chastain particularly liked Chopsticks Dance of the Mongolian Ladies where female dancers energetically tap out a welcoming rhythm to guests with handfuls of chopsticks.

The couple also enjoyed The Fable of the Magic Brush, a legend about a magic paintbrush that could bring painted objects to life—if used with the right intention.

“It was very good,” said Mr. Chastain, who is an attorney.

New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has four touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org

The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time. We have proudly covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.