(Clearwisdom.net) Shen Yun Performing Arts captivated Texans with its portrayal of 5,000 years of Chinese history and culture at its opening show in Houston at Jones Hall on Monday, December 21, 2009. Mayor Leonard Scarcella of the City of Stafford, Texas was in attendance.

"The performance was truly dazzling. The thing that captivated me was [that] it takes you literally through thousands of years of the Chinese culture and people," said the mayor.

"You get a feel and a flavor that you really don't have with Western culture because of the tremendous length of time and development of Chinese culture and all of the steps it had taken."

Shen Yun Performing Arts captivates Texans in Houston

Shen Yun Performing Arts is a New York-based dance and music company that aims to revive the true, five-millennia-old artistic tradition of China.

Commenting further on the show, Mr. Scarcella said, "You see it from literally ... almost the beginning of humankind to where you have [the] situation at the end that is the current administration and ... suppression of people," referring to the Chinese Communist Party.

"You have a feel here that is very unique to Westerners. And that's what captivated me most about it, in addition to the beauty and eloquence of the dancers and performers," said the mayor of forty years.

Mr. Scarcella said what motivated him the most about the dances was the eloquence and the beauty perceptible in the performers themselves, as well as in their costumes.

"It's something that explodes. [For] someone who likes to think and enjoy more culture and performances, I get a flavor out of this that you rarely get out of other performances; very gratifying that I was able to see this," he said, adding that the dancing was very "well-timed" and "delicate in nature."

He was also impressed by how "broad" the show was and "how many various steps and activities they do."

In addition to stunning dance performances, Shen Yun also features solo performances by world-renowned vocalists, and features a live orchestra consisting of Western and Eastern classical instruments.

"So many times in dance you're looking at the performer mostly; he may be in a white outfit, but the color that's here is so terrific. That's why I say it's dazzling; the color consolidated with the dancing palate that brings out something you don't always see."

Mr. Scarcella also noted the delicacy and femininity portrayed by the female dancers.

"I love the women when they were doing their dances in a very tasteful and yet eloquent way ... that is what entertained me the most."

Concluding his remarks on the show, Mr. Scarcella said, "In two hours, you go through thousands of years."

"The movement through time you can see, and yet the strong message of morality and striving to reach the apparent goal, that's all there, believing upon your faith very fervently," he said.

"Not just meant to be entertainment, it's meant to deliver a message."

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