(Minghui.org) December 21 – 23, 2018, the weekend before Christmas, Shen Yun Performing Arts thrilled audiences in five U.S. cities: McAllen and Beaumont, Texas; Baltimore, Maryland; Rockford, Illinois; and San Jose, California. 

The Shen Yun New York Company performed six sold-out shows at the Center for the Performing Arts in San Jose, California, December 19–23, 2018.

Curtain call by the Shen Yun New York Company at the Center for the Performing Arts in San Jose on December 23, 2018.

The Shen Yun Touring Company presented four sold-out shows at The Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore, Maryland, December 21–23, 2018.

Curtain call by Shen Yun International Company at the Coronado Performing Arts Center in Rockford, Illinois, on December 22, 2018. The company performed two sold-out shows December 22–23.

“This Brought People Together”

Ronald Bowers (left), former president of Maryland Theatre’s board of directors, at the Shen Yun performance on December 22 in Baltimore, Maryland, with Jean Duley (second left), Mimi Lising (second right), and his grandson, Jay Wandalowski (right).

“I’ve never seen a performance in all of my life equal to what I saw today,” said Ronald Bowers, former president of Maryland Theatre’s board of directors.

“This brought people together... showed how people can really be together, doing different things,” Mr. Bowers said.

Mr. Bower’s grandson, Jay Wandalowski, a retired financial advisor, bought tickets to Shen Yun as a surprise Christmas gift for his wife, Mimi Lising, who works for the National Cancer Institute.

Mr. Wandalowski said the performance depicted a clear theme showing people “how to act and how to be.”

“If you do that, then you have an opportunity to return to wherever you feel like you came from,” he added.

“What I loved about... watching the performance [is] they were so strong. The way they express the emotions, it was amazing. I couldn’t believe that you could have such emotion through your body,” Ms. Lising said.

“It's Unmatched”

John Holbert, chairman of the Chamber Music On The Hill board of directors, at The Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore, Maryland, on December 23, 2018.

John Holbert, chairman of the Chamber Music On The Hill board of directors, especially enjoyed Shen Yun's musical arrangements.

“It’s an absolutely outstanding and extremely ethereal type of instrument,” Mr. Holbert said of the erhu, a traditional Chinese instrument.

“The Western orchestra just fits right in with that type of music... Very inspirational,” he added. “Combined with the dance, the visual... It’s unmatched.”

“Very High Level of Dancing”

Michael Durrigan, college professor and child psychologist, at the Center for the Performing Arts in San Jose, California, on December 22, 2018.

“I loved quite a few things—the color, the pageantry, the music. The story lines are very wonderful,” said Michael Durrigan, a college professor and child psychologist.

“The talent of the dancers is remarkable,” Mr. Durrigan said. “It’s excellent. It’s a very, very high level of dancing.”

About the divine portrayed in Shen Yun, he said, “I think it’s a good thing... People, at an unconscious level, some of them, when they see that, I think that it radiates with them, because it’s ringing a bell with your own spiritual inclinations. So I think that that’s a beautiful thing.”

“Entertaining and Energetic”

Kevin Vliet (right), vice president for the Target Corporation, with his family at the Center for the Performing Arts in San Jose, California, on December 23, 2018.

“It’s very entertaining and lively,” said Kevin Vliet, a vice president for the Target Corporation.

“[I will tell my friends] they should come and see it and be thoroughly entertained,” Mr. Vliet said.

Prior to their visit to Maryland, Shen Yun Performing Arts received congratulatory greetings and acknowledgments from many elected officials, including U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, Governor Larry Hogan, U.S. Representative Elijah E. Cummings, and U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin. They congratulated Shen Yun on the company's success in reviving traditional Chinese culture.

Shen Yun will continue its world tour with upcoming performances in San Jose, California, December 26–29; Houston, Texas, December 26–January 16;New Orleans, Louisiana, December 26; and Chicago, Illinois, December 27–30.

For more information on tickets and dates, please visit http://shenyun.com.