HOUSTON—Business owners Sean Shapiro and Yormary Garzon watched
Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Jones Hall for the Performing Arts on Dec. 28.
“It’s beautiful,” said Ms. Garzon. “It’s amazing to see the coordination and … [how] everyone danced at the same time. And the synchronization … that was spectacular.”
New York-based
Shen Yun is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company. Since its inception in 2006, Shen Yun’s mission has been to revive traditional Chinese culture and show audiences the beauty of China before communism.
Shen Yun’s patented animated backdrop, which allows the dancers to move seamlessly between the stage and background, has long been a fan favorite. Mr. Shapiro said that
the backdrop was what caught his attention.
“I can see why it’s a patent,” he said. “Nobody else is doing that, so … that was like, wow!”
The music and the choreography stood out for Mr. Shapiro, too. He complimented the
erhu soloist, an erhu is a traditional Chinese two-stringed instrument that is featured in Shen Yun’s unique live orchestra, and he also praised the dancers’ synchronization.
When asked what he felt was the message in Shen Yun’s
performance, Mr. Shapiro said it was kindness and faith.
“[Have] faith and stick to it,” he said. “Don’t let anybody come through and … influence you out of it … [There is] the deeper message of just trying to say, this is what we used to be, [and] trying to keep that alive.”
Mr. Shapiro added that he believed keeping traditional culture alive was definitely something important.
Ms. Garzon said that she found Shen Yun’s efforts to promote traditional culture very beautiful.
“It’s really great that they’re [performing] not only beautiful [dancing], but the story behind it,” she said.
Reporting by Sonia Wu and Wandi Zhu.
