(Clearwisdom.net) A magnificent presentation by the New York-based Shen Yun performing arts company has brought China's divinely-inspired ancient culture to center-stage at Brown Theater at Houston's Wortham Center. The company was in town for three shows only and are now preparing to perform in Los Angeles.

Of those in the audience who spoke about the show afterward, many were moved spiritually. Some appreciated the depiction of the relationship between heaven and earth, while others saw the the struggle of good versus evil; still others felt that there was something more, something deeper to the whole experience.

Stefan Blozinski, a film production manager

Stefan Blozinski was one who witnessed the spiritual component of ancient China's culture, a component that he hadn't been aware of. "It taught me more about the spiritual part of China, their concepts of heaven and life, and kind of how and where it was coming from. I knew that it existed in Chinese culture, but I didn't know where it was coming from. I've never had an understanding about all that before. I really didn't have any idea what I was getting into. As soon as I realized that's what it was about, it opened up the whole show to me. I started to get really, really into it. I started to look for those types of things. It really meant a lot to me, the whole history and the spirituality. Everybody's looking for good--and the details about where that was coming from was really meaningful."

Bronson Woods, special assistant to Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, of the 18th congressional district of Texas.

Bronson Woods was enthusiastic about the show, "I must say this show really blew my mind. It really baptized, so to speak, me into another culture of performance. It told a story. It really enlightened me. It's really amazing, is what I must say about this performance on this evening. Every inch of the performance was simply amazing and divine." Mr. Woods continued, "Just how everything is put together, the story that was told, how they liked to relate back to the divine. I'm just blessed to have been able to have been here, to experience such a divine encounter."

The show really struck a chord with Mr. Bronson, and he likened it to a "soul messenger." "I've seen a lot of depictions of God, I've seen death, I've seen life, I've seen salvation, I've seen togetherness, I've seen broken hearts, I've seen fixed hearts, I've seen peace and I've felt peace--and that's what I felt about this evening's performance," he said.

George Anderson with Renee Arnold, both from the Fountain of Praise Church

Renee Arnold was aware of the persecution of Falun Gong, but to "really experience it, and to get the word out, I'm hoping to make a change," she said. "How you're doing it ... it's connecting. It's connecting the cultures, our culture with your culture by enlightening us. It's a connection. I think you all are very brave; the performance is very brave and admirable."

George Anderson said. "It was executed really well, but what was most impressive was the spiritual story behind each of the dances and each of the performances. It was very moving, and I felt moved, and this to me shows the human struggle that's universal. So experiencing this part of Chinese culture--authentic and original Chinese culture--was really, really exciting today." Mr. Anderson said he learned that spiritual struggle is universal but even within that struggle "there can still be a beautiful and very lovely expression of the human state--that the human spirit shines out of whatever is repressing or stopping it."

Dr. Mtangulizi Sanyika, Professor of African World Studies at Dillard University

Dr. Sanyika described the show as "absolutely marvelous." He thought long and deeply about the show: "I've studied the theology of the show in addition to the dances and beautiful scenery and marvelous articulations. There's deep theology that's being discussed here. It's a marvelous production, and it's so wonderful. I wish everybody can have a chance to see this and what it's discussing with us. There are vital human lessons involved here," he said.

"I'd love a DVD of the whole production," he continued. "It's really something special. I hope children in the schools can see it. I think people should reflect on the messages here, about the constant struggle between good and evil and about the ways in which humans are always pursuing the divine. It's a human story being expressed through the particularities of Chinese culture. It's a profound human story."

"I think there are some really profound things that are being said up there that takes a little while to reflect on, but the moment that you perceive what is said, you realize that the human spirit is being spoken to; and the desires of human beings to always express their relationship to the divine is an eternal struggle that can never be destroyed."

Sources:

http://theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/38625/

http://theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/38526/

http://theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/38586/

http://theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/38528/