BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom—Andrew Cliff loves Chinese culture. And seeing Shen Yun Performing Arts gave him an even deeper appreciation.
“I’m into all things Chinese: Chinese food, Chinese clothes, Chinese philosophy, Chinese music, most of all Chinese martial arts,” he said after watching Shen Yun at the Birmingham ICC on March 5.
“My parents often said that I relate better to all things Chinese than my own culture, which is quite fitting that I came tonight,” he said.
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts seeks to revive the authentic 5,000 years of Chinese culture that has been almost lost due to systematic destruction by the Chinese Communist Party over the past 60 years.
With an understanding of this, Mr. Cliff said Shen Yun “is real Chinese to me.” He said he found Shen Yun to be “beautiful, wise, profound, elegant.”
“It’s outstanding—the performance, the ability, the music, everything!”
Shen Yun performances draw inspiration from the rich heritage of China, presenting stories and legends from history through classical Chinese dance, folk and ethnic dances that capture the essence of the many peoples of China, and songs that explore the deeper meaning of life.
“Shen Yun vocalists’ singing technique is the genuine bel canto tenor and soprano technique, and is very similar to the technique used by the ‘10 great tenors’ of the past,” states the Shen Yun Performing Arts website.
The songs—all original compositions—are sung in Mandarin, but the lyrics are projected in English onto the digital backdrop.
While Mr. Cliff is currently studying Mandarin, he appreciated being able to read the lyrics in English.
“I find [the lyrics] quite moving, about finding your true self. I relate to that myself, about finding your true self,” he said.
He said that they had taught him to “certainly be myself always.”
“I'll certainly be coming again,” he said.
Reporting by NTD Television and Kat Piper
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has four touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit Shen Yun Performing Arts.
Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time. We have proudly covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.
