“I would have to bow down and say, well done. I have never seen a performance like this before. It’s absolutely spectacular. And everyone that’s been associated with its production needs to be thoroughly congratulated,” Mr. Garrard said.
“The animation is absolutely spectacular, and what I like is the way the show is commentated. That makes it very easy to understand and to appreciate the culture that I’m watching,” he said.
In one dance story, a group of reluctant restaurant workers pull together to come back from a negative health inspection outcome. The digital backdrop brings the scene to life. This dance story impressed Mr. Garrard, who related to it as an elected official.
“The stories were told in a very idealistic way. The animation, the colour, the dance—the dance was spectacular. I particularly liked the restaurant scene, being from a council. But I was very, very, very impressed,” he said.
“There’s many stories there, but it’s good to see how they reflect on Chinese culture. And I think how the music and the animation, and the dance all sort of comes together to appreciate the story that’s being told,” Mr. Garrard said.
Mr. Garrard encouraged others to see the performance. “This show is so spectacular. It’s very hard to explain to people just how good it is. So there’s only one way to do that, and that’s to come and have a look,” he said.
Christian Minister Drove Nearly 8 Hours to Attend Shen Yun
Terry Allen, a Christian Baptist minister, and his wife drove for nearly eight hours and more than 530 kilometres (330 miles) to attend Shen Yun on March 12.“I had no idea what we were in for; I was very very impressed,” Mr. Allen said.
Mr. Allen was struck by the dance, including the tumbling, the colours, the way the dancers interacted with the digital backdrop, and the way the performers moved in sync.
“I caught the synchronization with the screen at the back, the graphics, and the actors jumping in and out of the screen; the coordination I thought was excellent. Very, very tight. I was watching very carefully, and I was really impressed,” Mr. Allen said.
“I would recommend it just on that basis; I would come and hear them play a concert just on their own,” he added.
The final element that struck Mr. Allen was what he noted was “a spiritual tone to the whole” performance.
“Because I’m a minister of the Christian church, I noticed all the way through there was a spiritual tone to the whole thing. We were told that atheism and evolution are Satan’s ruse, and I was going tick, tick, tick all the way through. I could have stood up and sung that as well,” Mr. Allen said.
According to Shen Yun, China was once known as the land of the divine, with its rich culture bestowed by divine beings who came down from heaven. This traditional culture was almost destroyed, however, under communist tyranny, which took power in 1949. But Shen Yun declares that classical Chinese dance has always played a key role in passing down culture.
“It’s interesting to see Chinese culture going all the way back,” Mr. Allen said. “We sort of go back with them in history, and then we’re carried into the modern day,” he added.
Among its pieces showcasing 5,000 years of Chinese history, Shen Yun also includes dance pieces that tell stories of life in modern-day China under the oppression of communism.
“I think it was nice to introduce that and get people to think about where they stand before their creator god,” he said.
School Principal Says Shen Yun Is ‘Just Mesmerising’
Peter Wade, the principal of a boys Christian school, said he was impressed by the artistry, music, and dancers when he attended the performance on March 12.“With the performance tonight, the artistry, the grace in which the music is played, and the dancers perform, it’s just mesmerising,” Mr. Wade said.
“They dance in unison, and it’s almost like poetry in motion; it’s just beautiful to watch,” he added.
Shen Yun tours the world in eight companies simultaneously, each with their own live orchestra. Mr. Wade, who was seated in the front row, praised its music.
“The music is all just beautiful, lyrical, and I’m seated right at the front, so I’m watching the orchestra, and they are just so talented,” he said.
“The show is very uplifting. I feel a journey; I feel there’s love, there’s passion, there’s evil and goodness, and sometimes good triumphing. Very uplifting,” the principal said.
Mr. Wade was also impressed by the innovation of Shen Yun’s digital backdrop and how the dancers seamlessly appeared to fly off the stage and into the backdrop.
“I love the way that they do the filming, which then becomes into the animation. Very clever, very clever,” he said.
Mr. Wade expressed high praise for Shen Yun’s dancers, saying they made it “look effortless” even though he knows how much hard work went into it.
