Harpist Touched by Shen Yun’s Spirituality

NTD Newsroom
Shen Yun
Shen Yun had another sell-out show at Bristol’s Hippodrome on Feb. 21. Theatergoers, including harpist John Dalton, were impressed by Shen Yun’s artistry.

“I was mesmerized by the stories because it's a series of stories, and I like very much the fact that the spiritual world is brought into the stories. Everywhere,” he said.

“I wish all theaters, all artworks could reconnect with the spiritual. Because art without the spiritual becomes ugly and without meaning. And when it has the spiritual in it, the meanings are beautiful and touch us all, young and old.”

Dalton, an accomplished harpist, described Shen Yun’s music as “comforting and relaxing, at times dramatic but always melodic.”

“Music is a therapy for the soul,” he said. “It affects our moods and the music has a serenity and a melodic aspect, which is very enjoyable and suits the dancing very well.”

Through live music and dance, Shen Yun aims to bring traditional Chinese culture to life on stage. The name Shen Yun translates as “The beauty of divine beings dancing.”

“Very clean technique. It's a very clean show, very precise, very nice quality of movement,” said professional ballet teacher Ben Tribe.

“It's very high level, very high level. And I think the video, with the costume, the lighting, the dancers, it all blends together to make such a wonderful production.”

Susan James, a lawyer, said the music was a lovely fusion of Western and Eastern instruments.

“[It’s] really interesting to hear. It's really nice to have a little instrumental part on stage as well and the soprano, beautiful, beautiful voice,” she said.

"I just had a smile over my face the whole time. It is just so beautiful to see, so remarkable, just so wonderful to see people so dedicated, really lovely."

NTD News, Bristol, UK.
NTD is a media sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts, covering audience reactions since 2006.

NTD is a media sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts, covering audience reactions since 2006.