GLASGOW, UK—Steven Mullen came to Shen Yun Performing Arts on Feb. 8 at the SEC Armadillo theater aware that the Chinese New Year was close.
Shen Yun’s mission is to revive traditional Chinese culture before communism and to convey it to the world. Mr. Mullen said it was relevant today and said he would share it with his little students.
“We are learning [different] cultures as well. We’re all different types of culture, and [it’s important] to learn from each other. It’s definitely relevant in the current day as well,” Mr. Mullen said.
Mr. Mullen, a nursery teacher of 3-to 5-year-olds, said he was moved by the music and how the performers expressed the meaning of the story. “I think the music and the way that the actors and the people actually interpret the dance is very emotional and very uplifting as well, he said.
Mr. Mullen also wanted to share his experience with the nursery staff. “Obviously, with the Chinese New Year coming, we celebrate that every year. So, it’s trying to interpret that and do a little bit of dance. We do a dragon dance. I’m just trying to incorporate that back to teach our children a bit about Chinese culture and dance as well,” he said.
He said audiences everywhere can learn “how to embrace dance and current circumstances.”
“You see their journey through the interpretation of dance, which is really emotional, and obviously gets your heartstrings pulled as well. Obviously, with regards to how it makes you feel, it uplifts you and gives you the passion for dance,” Mr. Mullen said. “Especially for me, it’s been an education to take back to my children.”
For Mr. Mullen, “The Steadfast Heart,” set in modern China, was very moving. “The modern-day China’s story is very uplifting and very powerful, and how that’s still going on today,” he said.
Shen Yun’s patented backdrop interacts with the performers as they seemingly jump in and out of the screen. “The backdrop, the animations—it’s amazing how you can capture it. [The performers] just disappear, and they can return [to the stage]. Definitely amazing,” he said.
Mr. Mullen was impressed by the tenor soloist as the lyrics were projected in English on the back screen. “It’s amazing how the [the backdrop] captured the [lyrics] and how he was actually singing in Chinese.”
