HIGH WYCOMBE, UK—Shen Yun Performing Arts delighted sisters Jane Smith and Ruth Novak at the Wycombe Swan Theatre on March 1.
“I think it’s wonderful,” psychologist Ms. Smith said. “It’s lovely to see cultural dances, traditional dances, but also the more contemporary ones. The costumes are incredible, really beautiful. The whole thing is visually exciting and different. I’m really enjoying it.”
Ms. Novak, who works with children in school, said, “It’s absolutely amazing. I enjoy ballet, and this incorporates other styles of dance. I love the way [Shen Yun] mixes folk dance and ethnic dances. I think it’s really beautiful.”
Ms. Smith said she recently re-read “Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China,” which helped her to appreciate the stories presented in Shen Yun.
A dance depicting modern-day China is “The Steadfast Heart.” According to the Shen Yun program, the piece about the persecution of Falun Gong “reflects the reality faced by many Chinese today.” Fearing Falun Gong’s popularity, the communist regime launched a brutal campaign in 1999 to wipe it out.
Ms. Smith said, “That was very interesting to see that it was contemporary. It was shocking to see that, actually.”
Mother Enjoys Shen Yun as Birthday Gift
Catherine Davies brought her mom, Linda Rogers, to Shen Yun Performing Arts on March 1 as a birthday gift, which delighted Ms. Rogers.
Ms. Rogers said the performance was “just fabulous.”
Ms. Davies, a business writer, said, “I thought it was really lovely, colorful, and beautiful. Everybody was in perfect time and very graceful and elegant.
Shen Yun’s hosts introduce each piece with an explanation of the story to be performed.
“It was nice having the introductions so we could understand what the story was about,” Ms. Davies said.
Shen Yun says it’s on a mission to share “China before communism” with audiences around the world. The culture is embedded with spiritual lessons and universal values that are displayed in the dance dramas.
“It was good to hear the morals of the story,” Ms. Davies said, “like karma—what goes around comes around—and looking out for people. It’s really very nice.”
Although Shen Yun performs in hundreds of cities around the world to great acclaim, the communist regime in China has banned Shen Yun.
Ms. Rogers, retired from sales, said, “It’s very, very positive. But it’s such a shame that it can’t be shown in China. So we are lucky here that we can see the show.”
“It’s a shame because it’s such a celebration of Chinese culture and talent,” Ms. Davies said. “But it was great that we got to see it.”
Ms. Davies expressed a hope “to save up and come another time to see [Shen Yun]. It was even nicer when it’s a grey day outside, and you come in to escape to a different world.”
She said Shen Yun offers “good lessons for everybody.”
