Former headteacher Liz Wesley-Barker said she found Shen Yun's story-telling "really powerful and passionate, and it moved me."
Mike Mason, a manager, said he was impressed with Shen Yun's use of “modern technology with perfect timing, with tradition, with humor all together. It was all interwoven so well and I quite like the fact that the presenters come on [stage] in between, introduce each [story], and give it a little bit of background for those who don’t know.”
In addition to ancient legends, Shen Yun tells stories of the modern-day courage by practitioners of a traditional Chinese meditation practice that teaches living in harmony with the values truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. Falun Gong, or Falun Dafa, has been persecuted by China’s communist regime for over two decades.
Musician Stuart Anderson said: “It was quite surprising the sort of conflict with modern communism, how that underlying message came out and talked about the traditions and the freedom that was in China before communism came and restricted everything.”
Ms. Wesley-Barker said Shen Yun's story-telling about the persecution going on in China was “really powerful.” When the emcees said, “This is still happening today,” she said she was shocked. “As you say, it’s often really hidden and you don’t necessarily hear about it,” she added.
“It was emotional … Actually seeing it within creative arts, because I always think that makes it more powerful, it comes to life and it makes you think about it a bit more.”
Shen Yun's stories through dances are accompanied by a live orchestra blending Eastern and Western musical traditions. It features ancient Chinese instruments with a full Western ensemble.
Mr. Anderson said, “There’s a piece played on a traditional Chinese two-stringed instrument which is just stunning, just beautiful. The musician who plays it is so talented.”
Mr. Anderson said the erhu was the highlight for him. “There’s a piece played on a traditional Chinese two-stringed instrument which is just stunning, just beautiful. The musician who plays that is so talented—it was quite breath-taking.”
Shen Yun will continue its UK tour in Northampton on Feb. 17 and 18, with two more cities to follow later this month.
