SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

‘Shen Yun Conveys Divinity and Hope,’ Says High Wycombe Theatergoer

Feb 26, 2026

2/26/2026Updated: 2/26/2026

HIGH WYCOMBE, UK—“They worked so hard. Their performance was absolutely amazing! Everything they presented today deserves a real big prize—it was so wonderful! You could clearly feel that everyone in the audience was moved by the dancing, the energy, and the peace and hope created in the performance,” said Jill Fasey after watching Shen Yun.

On the afternoon of Feb. 25, the Shen Yun Performing Arts Global Company presented its fourth performance at the Wycombe Swan Theatre, offering audiences another rich celebration of art and culture. Among those in attendance was Ms. Fasey, who retired from a career in recruitment in the computer field. After the performance, she described feeling both delighted and deeply moved.

“I think it was just so wonderful. It was invigorating—dramatic and romantic at the same time,” Ms. Fasey said. “All the scenes were absolutely beautiful and so well put together.”

She was equally enthusiastic about the choreography. “It was absolutely out of this world,” she said, praising its extraordinary artistry.

The dancers’ remarkable energy left a strong impression on her. With a touch of humor, she added that compared to the vibrant performers on stage, she felt “quite feeble.”

Among the many memorable pieces, the dance drama depicting practitioners of Falun Dafa remaining steadfast in their faith amid persecution stood out most to Ms. Fasey. She mentioned that she had vaguely heard about such persecution on television before, but was surprised to see such a serious subject expressed through ballet.

Falun Dafa is a peaceful meditation practice made public in 1992, whose followers strive to live by the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance. Unable to accept any group having more influence than the Chinese Communist Party, the regime began persecuting Falun Dafa practitioners in 1999. Practitioners have been harassed, persecuted, imprisoned, and tortured to death since then.

“I was quite surprised to see it actually turned into a ballet,” she said. Reflecting on the theme, she added, “I was amazed that anyone would want to create such an unfortunate existence and persecute people because of their beliefs.” She described the piece as “modern but traditional at the same time.”

Shen Yun’s mission is to revive traditional Chinese culture. Ms. Fasey believes this is especially meaningful in today’s complex world.

“I think it’s very important because there’s so much going on in the world that’s difficult to deal with,” she said. “If you stop for a minute and think about things, and try to introduce compassion, I think it helps you deal with the unfortunate incidents that are happening in the world.”

Traditional Chinese culture is often described as divinely inspired, and the spiritual elements portrayed on stage resonated strongly with Ms. Fasey. She was particularly touched by scenes in which Buddha appeared to help those in need.

“I thought the spiritual aspect was amazing—especially when Buddha kept appearing in the show and helped people,” she said. “You didn’t realize you were going to be helped. It was a surprise, and you felt thankful. It introduced hope as well, which I think is very important.”

Expressing her heartfelt admiration for the artists, Ms. Fasey noted not only their technical excellence but also their sincerity on stage.

“They smiled all the time when they were due to smile, but they had a peaceful look about them at the same time,” she said. “Their performance was absolutely amazing.”

In closing, she reiterated that the entire audience appeared deeply moved—not only by the precision and artistry of the dance, but by the energy, serenity, and hope conveyed throughout the performance.

Reporting by James Xu and Olivia Li.

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