STOCKHOLM, Sweden—Peter Funk, professor of Computer Science at Mälardalen University, saw Shen Yun Performing Arts for the first time in Stockholm on April 9. The New York-based company and its display of traditional Chinese culture impressed him.
“The performance was amazing,” he said. “I liked both the dancers and the music, and the brief stories they told between numbers.”
Two presenters—one speaking in Chinese and the other in Swedish—guided the audience through the performance, and taught a few Chinese words. Some dances were based on scenes from classical Chinese literature, such as Journey to the West and Outlaws of the Marsh.
Mr. Funk appreciated the dancers’ athletic skills, and also the solo performance of the erhu, the two-stringed “Chinese violin”, an instrument with a history of over 4,000 years. The tiny instrument may have only two strings, but is nevertheless capable of expressing a wide range of emotions.
Mr. Funk also said that he thought the openness to phenomena like Shen Yun may lead to a change in China over time, which he saw as a good thing.
“It’s good that there are alternatives that pave the way and open things up,” he said.
Young people, like the artists of Shen Yun, getting involved in preserving traditional Chinese culture is another positive thing, according to Mr. Funk.
“This shows how the world is changing and developing. Culture and communication are vital things,” he said.
Therefore, increased cultural exchange between countries becomes an important matter when it comes to effecting change in China, he said.
The professor added that everyone should go and see Shen Yun, and wished the company the best of luck on its mission to revive traditional Chinese culture.
Reporting by Ming Ya and Hans Bengtsson
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
