LONDON, U.K.—Shen Yun Performing Arts left audience members dazzled after its performance at the Apollo Eventim in London on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020.

“It was just something very special,” said Adrian Aplin, the managing director of Bickenhall Developments.

“It was amazing. It was just such a fantastic mixture of music and dance and spectacle. Incredible orchestra. Great dancers,” he said.

“It’s very exciting. The music sort of gets into your body and you really get enthused by it.”

New York-based Shen Yun is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance company. The dances draw inspiration from China’s 5,000 years of divinely inspired culture and the dancers work to embody the highest ideals of that culture.

“They were absolutely incredible. So athletic and so flexible. Some of the moves that they’ve pulled off were unbelievable,” said Aplin.

Classical Chinese dance includes highly technical jumping and tumbling techniques, moves that were later adopted by gymnastics and are familiar to many people as acrobatics.

“I think it’s really good, it’s spreading the Chinese culture and the Chinese tradition, and there’s some really good stories to be told about the Chinese values and their relationship to the world we live in today,” he said.

“China is a very ancient culture going back many thousands of years,” he said.

The teachings embedded in that culture had deep value for other countries, he added.

“We’ve lost our way a little but and I think going back to some of these traditional values would be a really good thing.”

“I think the performance on stage depicted divinity, the culture of divinity of the Chinese people in a nice and colorful way,” he said.

Another couple also suggested that culture had real value for those in the West.

“They need to know the truth and they need to know the history and to carry that on is very important ... for any culture,” she said.

When asked to describe Shen Yun, she said the performance was “absolutely beautiful, stunning.”

“It’s fantastic, fantastic,” said Mrs. Evans. “I love dancing and I dragged him along.”

“It looked beautiful, really, really beautiful,” said her husband. “I thought it was fantastic, uplifting.”

Many who attended the show described a similar feeling, of being energized but made calm, and feeling uplifted.

Blanka Perse, a nutritionist who came with her husband said Shen Yun was “very refreshing,” and “very different.”

“They are marvelous, they really dance well. It looked so easy, and one knows that is not easy,” she said.

Carer Rachael Hill came with friend and paleontologist Chris Tait. During intermission, the pair praised the technical quality of the performance.

“I’m really enjoying it, I’m most impressed,” he said. “Very uplifting, it’s very peaceful. I enjoyed it.”

Businesswoman Allison Clark was also impressed with Shen Yun’s unique backdrop.

She said she had not expected a full orchestra, let alone Shen Yun’s unique combination of instruments.

“The music is amazing,” she said before going on to praise Shen Yun’s wider impact.

“It’s very inspirational. It’s very uplifting. Their movements, it’s all very smooth and flowing.”

“I was really overwhelmed. I cried. It’s beautiful. It’s beautiful,” said Tucker, who was classically trained in ballet and still passionate about dance.

Georgina Terry, a psychotherapist in London came with her father Malcolm Terry, who does property investment also in London.

“It’s brilliant, absolutely amazing,” said Georgina.

“It’s totally not what I expected,“ said her father. ”You can sit there and almost meditate whilst you’re watching it.”

“Amazingly calming,” he said.

“It’s mesmerizing,” added his daughter. “Very spiritual.”

“And their body postures are just mind-blowing,” added Mr. Terry.

“I think it’s an amazing success,” he said.