HOUSTON, Texas—“I believe that entertainment can give you a warm feeling … but to leave with a message makes entertainment important,” Gary Heavin, cofounder of the international fitness franchise Curves, said after watching Shen Yun Performing Arts with his wife and niece at Jones Hall for the Performing Arts in Houston on June 3.
Mr. Heavin with his wife, Diane Heavin, founded Curves Fitness, also known as Curves for Women, in 1992. In 2005, the company had reached its pinnacle, growing to nearly 10,000 locations in 75 countries worldwide. According to Guinness World Records at the time, Curves had become “The World’s Largest Fitness Center Franchise.”…