Shen Yun Performing Arts thrilled four packed houses at Switzerland’s Musical Theater in Basel from March 24 to 26.
Jörg Egger, a pharmacist, said Shen Yun’s performance was fantastic.
“It is an incredible combination of body control, tradition, wisdom, and also the divine is put in the foreground,” he said.
Beat Jans, president of the government of Basel, was inspired.
“It is a beautiful, traditional culture with enormous artistic power. The colors, the sounds, the music, but also the dancers are great and therefore it is a great honor that we can show this in Basel,” he said.
Shen Yun’s story-based performances enlighten audiences with China’s 5,000-year history, which upholds traditional values and has a reverence for the divine—something that’s hidden from today’s Chinese people by the Chinese Communist Party.
Anthea Bischof, a counselor, said it’s not easy to learn all of China’s vast history.
“Based on what I understand, China is just so big or so diverse and there are so many different aspects that we don’t know here in the West,” she said.
Bischof says there’s not enough time to read all the books about China, but watching a performance is different.
“I think that when you learn about art, it’s much more accessible—even for children or for people who don’t have time to read for a long time—than if you had to read a lot of books. You can take a lot away from a show, even if you haven’t read much,” she said.
Mr. Jans said he likes the fact that China’s ancient culture places importance on the value of forbearance.
“Tolerance is an important value and that is part of a democracy, as we have known in Basel for centuries and therefore … those are values that we share,” he said.
Mr. Egger said Shen Yun achieved a “great accomplishment” by bringing China’s true history to the stage.
“Congratulations on having the courage to tell this story and present it to the people in such a pictorial, musical and incredibly great way,” he said.
The myths and legends of ancient China come to life on stage through dance, music, and a unique digital backdrop.
Mr. Jans said Chinese culture is “completely different” from European culture.
It’s “something new but something very enriching and we are very happy that we have this here,” he said.
Ms. Bischof enjoyed the spiritual and technical elements in the performance, such as “how the light comes over and then it changes into the background and then the people appear again,” she said.
She also marveled at the aesthetics of the dance movements and how the dancers stayed in harmony.
“The perfection is really throughout and it looks so effortless. With certain dancers, the lightness in the dance gives you the impression that they don’t touch the floor at all,” she said.
Some of Shen Yun’s dance pieces depict modern-day China and its persecution of religion. Mr. Jans said human rights are important values.
And that, “it would be nice if China would also approach this human rights situation more sensitively.”
He said if China were more sensitive toward other religions, “it would become more democratic.”
Shen Yun stays in Europe with its tour of Italy, and is currently performing in the city of Palermo until April 2. Then on to the city of Bergamo for four performances from April 5 to 7.
“If you love to see a graceful event with colors, with joy, with stories and then also the cultural background, this is a great thing here,” Mr. Kottman said.
Mr. Egger said he couldn’t find the words to describe what he saw on stage. But he thanked Shen Yun very much.
“Congratulations. It’s incredible,” he said.
NTD News, Basel, Switzerland
