SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

People Need to Come See Shen Yun, Says Former London Borough Mayor

Jan 14, 2026

1/14/2026Updated: 1/14/2026

LONDON, U.K.—Ramji Chuahan, councillor and former mayor of the London Borough of Harrow, first learned about Shen Yun Performing Arts while browsing Facebook. After attending the company’s opening performance at the Eventim Apollo on Jan. 13, he urges everyone to experience it as well.

“People need to come in—look at this show to see how unique and spectacular it is. It’s dancing that’s not been shown in China,” he said.

“They’ve come out to try and perform all over the world, to show people exactly what traditions has been lost. It’s different compared to any other show that I’ve seen.”

Mr. Chuahan was amazed by the talent of all the performers. “They’re all young, talented,” he exclaimed. “They want to show all the skills that they’ve mastered. … Plus, you have somebody come along and sings a song and plays the piano, and the old tradition instruments as well.”

Based in New York, Shen Yun artists are highly trained in classical Chinese dance—an art form with a history spanning thousands of years, celebrated for its athleticism and expressive power.

According to the company’s website, the classical Chinese dance seen in China today is heavily mixed with military and modern styles. Only at Shen Yun can the audience experience it in its purest form, preserved as it was passed down through generations.

Mr. Chuahan also appreciated the spiritual element of the performance, noting that everything presented felt “peaceful and harmonious.”

“Everybody there was actually enjoying the show—round of applause [for] every single performance that was done and all different types of performances that they had. It’s different. It’s unique. It’s refreshing.”

Shen Yun was founded in 2006 by elite Chinese artists who had fled the persecution of the communist party.

For 5,000 years, China’s civilization flourished under the shared belief that the divine will bless those who uphold traditional moral values. Tragically, within just a few decades of the communist party’s violent takeover, these beliefs were erased and replaced with atheism.

The mission of these artists is to return to the world’s stage—the glory and beauty of China’s 5,000 years of divinely inspired culture.

“You should not lose history that tells a lot of stories about the past,” Mr. Chuahan expressed, reflecting on the company’s goal. “Every family who are from China, they should keep their tradition and teach their child as well.”

However, due to Shen Yun’s focus on reviving traditional culture and presenting the truth of events under communist rule in present-day China, it is currently banned from performing in China.

Mr. Chuahan expressed regret over the situation.

“It’s not right what’s happening in China,” he shared. “Everybody should have a right of performing wherever they want. Lack of freedom of speech—they’re going to lose their tradition and lose their faith and lose their history.”

Mr. Chuahan added that he would love the opportunity to meet the performers in person. “I want to take a picture with them, to be honest, [these] young, keen talent,” he said.

“They’ve actually mastered their talent, taken years of practicing and doing their performances. It’s not easy when you’re trying to learn a new skill. It takes a lot of hard work.”

Reporting by NTD and Jennifer Tseng.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.