Shen Yun Performing Arts begins its UK tour at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham, with a full weekend of sold out shows. Audience members recounted how they were absolutely captivated by the athletic ability of the dancers, who appear to fly through the air.
“It’s really different, and the dancing is really quite spectacular,” said Karen Tatlow, a garden design business owner. “I used to train as a dancer so I can see that it’s very accurate. The dancers are as light as a feather. They’re dancing as if there’s absolutely no effort involved whatsoever at all.”
“The whole thing is really quite delicate, whilst at the same time, you can see the strength in the dancers. You can’t do leaps and pirouettes and things like that without a huge amount of strength, but they just make it look completely effortless.”
“It’s beautiful,” said Gema Lopez, an IT designer. “I love, I mean, they look like feathers dancing. I love them, the dresses also, the colors of the dresses. It was so vivid—different colors. I haven’t seen those colors before.”
Drawing inspiration from China’s rich 5,000 years of history, Shen Yun’s mission is to revive China’s authentic traditional culture through the medium of Classical Chinese dance.
“Oh, I love it. Love it. I think we should do more of that to preserve ancient cultures in that way, to display it in a genuine way is really good,” said Keith Allan, a medical pharmaceutical consultant.
“It’s why we’re here. It’s why the Chinese culture is here, why the British culture is here. I think we need to tap on the roots, and where we came from to know where we’re going to go next.”
“There’s a real kind of innocence to the whole thing, which is really lovely,” Ms. Tatlow said. “And I know I keep using the word charming, but it is and I think that’s why it is—because you see that innocence, and that does come through in the dances and in the stories. So yes, there’s a lot more to it than just lovely dance.”
The audience praised Shen Yun as a must-see performance.
“Oh, I would just say nobody should miss it,” Ms. Lopez said. “If they have a chance to go, it’s really worth it to see it.”
“This is a once in a lifetime show. You will be uplifted as a result of coming here,” Mr. Allan said. “You will be, regardless of what you believe in, your culture, you will be enlightened by this spectacle. So, come!”
Shen Yun will complete its shows in Birmingham on Jan. 5, before traveling to London for the next leg of its 12-city UK tour.
Reporting by Malcolm Hudson
NTD News is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts.
