LONDON—Artist Frin Ahmidzadeh and therapist David Plimmer watched the Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company perform at the opening night of a six-show run at London’s Barbican centre on March 5.
Mr. Plimmer said that he felt honoured to see the show and that he would definitely recommend it to his friends.
“I was particularly moved by the whole experience,” he said. “When the dancers first came on I saw the colours and the beauty, the gracefulness as well as just how they communicate with each other, which is with gentleness. I find it touching to talk about them.”
He explained that he was particularly interested in the spiritual aspect of Shen Yun. Referring to the theme of the present-day suppression of the spiritual practice of Falun Gong, he said that he had heard about the persecution and that people in China have not been able to talk openly about it over the last ten or more years. He said that he was moved that there was what he called “a shift taking place”.
Mr Plimmer felt that in a society where people are moving away from their spiritual roots, there was a feeling in Shen Yun about moving back to the most spiritual aspects of our being.
He was also touched by the singing of tenor Yuan Qu and others in the performance. For him the words of the songs expressed a deep feeling. “For the most part I was moved to tears,” he said.
The sheer vitality and spectacle of the dancers impressed the pair. “I can only express the colour as vibrant. It wasn’t just the colour, it is the way the costume is made, and how they also use the clothes to dance,” explained Mr Plimmer.
His companion Frin Ahmidzadeh, an artist who works mainly on calligraphy and painting, was in agreement. “I love the colours and I love the dancers, how they present each region so nicely. It is really very interesting for me,” she said.
Reporting by Jingwen Bailey and Simon Miller.
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company will be performing in Barbican Theatre through March 9. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
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